A render of what the iPhone Fold might appear like – Picture Credit score: AppleInsider
Apple reportedly plans to shake up its iPhone launch schedule beginning with the iPhone 18, with solely the flagship Professional fashions rumored to reach in 2026.
Since 2019 and the iPhone 11 Professional, Apple has launched its Professional iPhone fashions alongside the common fashions. That annual occasion every September or October was accompanied by an occasional mid-cycle replace, or the sporadic launch of an iPhone SE, however now Apple is reportedly going to alter to a twice-yearly launch.
Based on The Info, three unnamed sources within the provide chain declare that Apple will stagger iPhone releases right into a fall and a spring sample from 2026. There isn’t a additional particular element in regards to the change, however the sources say the dearer fashions will launch first.
That will surely imply fashions such because the iPhone 18 Professional and iPhone 18 Professional Max. Nevertheless it’s additionally attainable that Apple will launch its first iPhone Fold on the similar time.
If the report is right, the transfer of the bottom iPhone 18 to a launch in spring 2027 might imply that Apple ties it in with an iPhone 18e. The primary mannequin in that vary, the iPhone 16e, was launched in spring 2025, as a alternative for the iPhone SE.
Tim Prepare dinner has described the iPhone 16e as being “the most recent member of the household.” So slightly than being a separate, occasional launch just like the iPhone SE, it is at the very least hinted that this lowest-cost mannequin might be an annual half of the lineup.
There is not any indication as but the place the anticipated slimmer mannequin of the iPhone would launch. Whereas will probably be a excessive profile mannequin, the iPhone 17 Slim or iPhone 17 Air is believed to be a alternative for the iPhone 16 Plus.
That may recommend that the most definitely cut up can be:
- September 2026: iPhone 18 Professional, iPhone 18 Professional Max, iPhone fold
- Spring 2027: iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Slim, iPhone 18e
Supporting the rumor is the truth that Apple’s gross sales are historically highest following the September launch. They then have a tendency to say no, even when there was a mid-cycle refresh, equivalent to in 2023 when a vibrant yellow model of the iPhone 14 was launched.
Whereas it’s extremely early to get element a few mannequin 18 months out at this level, shifting to a cut up launch schedule would imply Apple doubtlessly spreading its revenue extra evenly by way of the yr. It could additionally drive extra gross sales of the Professional fashions, since these might be obtainable months earlier than the remaining.
And, it is not till the spring that the non-Professional fashions traditionally seize nearly all of Apple’s iPhone gross sales in a mannequin yr.
Then there may be the problem of producing and manufacturing prices. Yearly, Apple’s main suppliers equivalent to Foxconn go on recruitment drives to massively construct up their workforce for the preliminary manufacture of a mannequin, as an illustration.
There’s reportedly a shrinking labor pool for such jobs round Foxconn’s services in China. On the similar time, there may be elevated competitors between producers, so for years Foxconn has been attempting to incentivize employees to affix it as an alternative of its rivals.
Plus, if Apple evens out its launch cycle, it’ll additionally even out its distribution prices. It may very well be one other a part of how radically Apple has reportedly been altering its provide and distribution in an effort to decrease the influence of tariffs.