Apple expected to bifurcate iPhone launch cycle; high-end models in the fall, entry-level in the spring

Apple will delay the release of the standard “iPhone 18 (tentative name)” model, originally expected next year, to the first half of 2027, as part of a reorganized product lineup that includes the introduction of a foldable iPhone, according to industry sources, EE Times reports.
The company will launch the “iPhone 18” series’ e-model and standard model in the first half of 2027, while introducing four models, including a foldable, in the second half of the year.
Apple has reportedly informed its material and parts partners that the standard model’s release will be postponed next year.
This shift stems from Apple’s new foldable phone lineup starting in 2026. The foldable iPhone will join the four main models released in the second half of the year, prompting Apple to move the standard model’s launch to the first half. However, the standard model’s release in the first half of 2026 has been deferred to 2027.
In summary, Apple’s 2026 releases will include the iPhone 17e in the first half and the iPhone 18 Air, Pro, Pro Max, and foldable models in the second half. Starting in 2027, Apple will add a standard model in the first half, resulting in a total of six models annually.
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MacDailyNews Take: Apple is looking to smooth out iPhone seasonality by splitting the iPhone release into a biannual affair: High-end iPhones in the fall, and entry-level iPhones in the spring.

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