According to reports from industry analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo and major tipsters such as Digital Chat Station, Apple is planning to break its long-standing tradition, in which all new flagship models were released simultaneously.
As far as more accessible base-model iPhone 18 is concerned, it can be launched quite a delay, which may probably slip by March 2027.
The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Air 2 and iPhone foldables can be launched in September 2026. Of these, iPhone Air 2 will be the most economical model. Launching these premium models before a significant holiday season can help Apple to maximize their profits, which may motivate buyers to spend on expensive models. In the absence of cheap iPhone 18, it can be helpful in avoiding internal competition for Apple, especially when this year’s regular iPhone 17 is much better.
In March 2027, when Apple usually reveals cheap and entry-level iPhone, you can expect iPhone 18E with iPhone 18e, which can promote sales before the summer season of 2027. This means that Standard iPhone 17 will last longer than its predecessors.
The premium iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to upgrade large hardware. The center of the Pro models is the much awaited A20 Pro chip, which is rumored to be the first Apple processor based on TSMC’s state -of -the -art 2Nm manufacturing process. This change is expected to increase the speed of chips by up to 15 percent and improve energy efficiency up to 30 percent. To manage increased power, sources say that Apple is using Stainless Steel Vapper Chamber for better thermal management, ensuring continuous high performance during intensive tasks.
For the display, the Pro models have a rumor of small dynamic island, giving more screen space in the upper part of the device.
The camera will also be a major sales point. The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to have a 48MP primary camera sensor, which will have a variable aperture system. This allows the lens to dynamically adjust the amount of lights on the sensor, leading to more control over the depth of field (bokeh) and improves performance in low light. Apple’s custom-designed C2 modem chip is expected to be included in the Pro series, which will improve connectivity and support the latest Wi-Fi 7 standards.