Apple might shake up the iPhone release schedule in a big way next year, delaying the iPhone 18 release date until the first quarter of 2027, according to a new report.
Why the big switch? To make room for next year’s standout device: the first folding iPhone.
iPhone 18 release date could be delayed due to Apple’s foldable
All signs point to Apple launching its first folding iPhone in the second half of 2026. The foldable reportedly will arrive alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models and the second edition of the rumored iPhone Air, with the basic iPhone 18 and the entry-level iPhone 18e delayed to early 2027, says an ET News report.
The staggered iPhone release should ease supply-chain pressure. Plus, it would make it easier for Apple to properly promote its growing iPhone lineup.
“Apple will shift its lineup to launch the entry-level iPhone e-model and the standard model together in the first half of the year, and then release four models, including the foldable model, in the second half of the year. Only the standard model will be temporarily delayed next year,” says the report, citing an industry source.
TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo made a similar prediction in May.
New iPhone launch schedule, with iPhone 18 release date delayed to 2027
If the rumors prove true, Apple will launch the foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September 2026. Then, in the first quarter of 2027, Apple will launch the base iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e. That means six new iPhones hitting the market in just half a year.
The strategy aims to boost sales while ensuring every model gets proper marketing attention. Plus, the move will help push Apple’s ASP (average selling price) for its iPhone lineup higher.
Apple’s first foldable could be the star of 2026
Alongside the delayed iPhone 18 release date, Apple is reportedly focusing on features for the foldable iPhone in iOS 27. The device’s folding screen supposedly will not be marred by a crease, thanks to a new hinge design. Still, it should be a niche product, especially with a rumored price tag of $2,000.
