A render of what the iPhone Fold could look like – Image Credit: AppleInsider
Apple reportedly plans to shake up its iPhone release schedule starting with the iPhone 18, with only the flagship Pro models rumored to arrive in 2026.
Since 2019 and the iPhone 11 Pro, Apple has launched its Pro iPhone models alongside the regular models. That annual event each September or October was accompanied by an occasional mid-cycle update, or the sporadic release of an iPhone SE, but now Apple is reportedly going to change to a twice-yearly launch.
According to The Information, three unnamed sources in the supply chain claim that Apple will stagger iPhone releases into a fall and a spring pattern from 2026. There is no further specific detail about the change, but the sources say the more expensive models will launch first.
That would certainly mean models such as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. But it’s also possible that Apple will launch its first iPhone Fold at the same time.
If the report is correct, the move of the base iPhone 18 to a launch in spring 2027 could mean that Apple ties it in with an iPhone 18e. The first model in that range, the iPhone 16e, was launched in spring 2025, as a replacement for the iPhone SE.
Tim Cook has described the iPhone 16e as being “the newest member of the family.” So rather than being a separate, occasional launch like the iPhone SE, it’s at least hinted that this lowest-cost model will be an annual part of the lineup.
There’s no indication as yet where the expected slimmer model of the iPhone would launch. While it will be a high profile model, the iPhone 17 Slim or iPhone 17 Air is believed to be a replacement for the iPhone 16 Plus.
That would suggest that the most likely split would be:
- September 2026: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone fold
- Spring 2027: iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Slim, iPhone 18e
Supporting the rumor is the fact that Apple’s sales are traditionally highest following the September launch. They then tend to decline, even when there has been a mid-cycle refresh, such as in 2023 when a bright yellow version of the iPhone 14 was launched.
While it is incredibly early to get detail about a model 18 months out at this point, moving to a split release schedule would mean Apple potentially spreading its income more evenly through the year. It may also drive more sales of the Pro models, since those will be available months before the rest.
And, it’s not until the spring that the non-Pro models historically capture the majority of Apple’s iPhone sales in a model year.
Then there is the issue of manufacturing and production costs. Every year, Apple’s major suppliers such as Foxconn go on recruitment drives to massively build up their workforce for the initial manufacture of a model, for instance.
There’s reportedly a shrinking labor pool for such jobs around Foxconn’s facilities in China. At the same time, there is increased competition between manufacturers, so for years Foxconn has been trying to incentivize workers to join it instead of its rivals.
Plus, if Apple evens out its release cycle, it will also even out its distribution costs. It could be another part of how radically Apple has reportedly been changing its supply and distribution in order to minimize the impact of tariffs.
