Apple's Base iPhone Model Is Taking a Gap Year

The iPhone 18 won't show up to Apple's fall 2026 event, according to multiple reports.

For the first time in iPhone history, Apple plans to skip launching a standard model during its traditional September event. Instead, the company will unveil only premium devices: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone.

The regular iPhone 18 and more affordable iPhone 18e won't arrive until spring 2027, roughly six months later, while the second-generation iPhone Air has reportedly been delayed. Apple's new launch strategy has been corroborated by The Information, Korea's ETNews, Bloomberg, and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

It will be the first deliberate separation of Apple's flagship iPhone releases since the company established its annual fall launch pattern with the iPhone 4S in 2011.

The new split strategy is said to serve several purposes. It will help Apple manage production as its lineup expands from five devices to six with the addition of the foldable model. It also addresses a competitive gap, as Chinese smartphone makers typically launch their flagship devices in the first half of the year when Apple has historically been quiet. By staging launches in both the fall and the spring, Apple can maintain a more consistent presence in the market all year round and better compete with its rivals.

The shift follows a pattern Apple actually started this year when it launched the iPhone 16e in March rather than alongside the iPhone 17 series in the fall. The e-series model replaced the standalone SE line and carries the previous year's model number.

So if you were planning to upgrade to the next new base model iPhone next year, you'll need to wait until 2027 – or choose one of Apple's pricier options.