Apple reportedly dropping iPhone 18 launch next year in favour of foldable iPhone: Report
Apple expected to launch iPhone 18 Air, Pro, Pro Max, and foldable iPhone in September 2026.
The affordable iPhone 18e and vanilla iPhone 18 may arrive globally in 2027.
Apple’s first foldable could feature a 7.8-inch AMOLED display and cost around $1,999.
Apple has established a long-standing tradition of introducing next-generation devices in September. However, next year, we may not get to see the iPhone 18 launch in 2026. According to the ETNews report, Apple could be skipping the standard iPhone 18 launch in 2026 and focus on the first foldable iPhone instead.
SurveyThe report further added that Apple will introduce five new devices under the iPhone 18 series, but not all at once. If the report is believed to be true, Apple will release the iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone in September 2026. And the vanilla trim and the affordable iPhone 18e may launch globally in early 2027, giving Apple’s premium models more breathing room before the affordable variants hit the market.
Meanwhile, Apple is rumoured to be changing its lineup, dropping the Plus model in favour of an ultra-slim yet capable iPhone 17 Air. The device is said to be only 5.5mm thick and weigh approximately 149 grams. Furthermore, the company is expected to release the more affordable iPhone 17e later this year or early next year. We’ll see when Apple launches the iPhone 17 series globally.
Also read: Oppo Find X8 Pro price drops by over Rs 22,000 on Amazon: How this deal works
Speaking of foldables, Apple may release a book-style foldable next year. According to reports, the device may be heavily inspired by the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and feature a 7.8-inch internal AMOLED panel and a 5.5-inch external screen (provided by Samsung Display). Apple is also expected to replace Face ID with Touch ID in its upcoming foldable device.
According to the report, the first-ever iPhone foldable could cost around Rs $1,999. It may have a dual camera setup and a durable design.
Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile