Apple has been launching new iPhones in the month of September for more than a decade now, making it a pattern. Each year in September, a new iPhone release occurs and pushes aside the old versions to make room for the new one to set the pace for the year to come. However, it seems that streak is about to come to an end, as Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its launch calendar that will affect the standard iPhone model the most. If this plan goes ahead, there will be no iPhone 18 launch in 2026. Instead, buyers may have to wait until 2027 to see the next non-Pro iPhone.
If the reports are true, then this would be the first time Apple skips an entire year for its main, mass-market iPhone. The move reflects how Apple’s product line has grown and how the company wants more breathing room for each model.
Despite the strong sales of the iPhone 17 in 2025, Apple is not expected to follow it up with a standard iPhone 18 in 2026. Current reports suggest that the iPhone 17 will remain Apple’s latest regular model for more than 18 months. That is a long stretch in a market where yearly upgrades have become normal.
The reason lies in Apple’s changing strategy. Instead of launching every iPhone together in the autumn, Apple is expected to divide releases into two parts. High-end models will continue to arrive later in the year, while more affordable and standard models will be pushed to the following spring.
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Under this plan, Apple is likely to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026. The standard iPhone 18 will reportedly be held back until spring 2027. It will launch alongside the iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2.
Experts suggest that the shift in the release strategy is closely linked to the expanding size of Apple’s iPhone lineup. Moreover, if the company keeps following the current release trend, then Apple may have at least eight different models available for sale by the end of 2026.
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These eight models include the recently launched iPhone 16e and iPhone Air that arrived in the market in the year 2025, the first foldable iPhone, which may reach stores in 2026, and the older phones such as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.
This increasingly crowded lineup also risks making the iPhone market feel cluttered. And, adding more models will only reduce the attention from the newer models that will be released. However, by adopting staggered release schedules, Apple may find it easier to differentiate its devices, give each model more time in the market without internal competition, and smooth out the launch of iPhones throughout the year.