There will be no iPhone 18 next year.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. Photo: The Verge .

According to sources from ETNews (South Korea), Apple is expected to move the launch date of the standard iPhone 18 to early 2027 instead of late 2026. If the rumor is accurate, this would be a major change in the iPhone launch cycle after 20 years.

Apple has reportedly informed its supply chain that the iPhone 18 will not be included in the September 2026 launch. Instead, the company plans to only unveil the high-end models. The standard and budget models (tentatively called iPhone 18e) will appear in March 2027.

Apple has sent the new plan to its component and material suppliers, ETNews reported, citing industry executives.

If the new launch schedule is followed, users wanting to upgrade their iPhone by the end of 2026 will only be able to choose high-end models. Meanwhile, standard and budget models will not be released until about six months later.

This decision marks the first time since the iPhone was introduced in 2007 that Apple has removed the standard model from its fall launch.

According to MacRumors , this change could be linked to the foldable iPhone, expected to launch in the fall of 2026 as the top-of-the-line device, alongside other models such as the iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, and 18 Pro Max.

The new strategy means Apple will launch iPhones in two phases: the second half of the year with the high-end models and the first half of the following year with the budget models.

In fact, part of this strategy was already implemented by Apple earlier this year when it launched the iPhone 16e, a cheaper alternative to the iPhone SE. Unlike the iPhone SE, which has its own name, the iPhone "e" model is directly linked to Apple's main product line.

Previously, The Information and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo both reported that Apple was considering launching iPhones in different years to maintain sales.

By launching new devices in March and September, the company can avoid a situation where sales are strongest in the fourth quarter but weaker in other periods.

If the rumors are accurate, the iPhone 17 will be the last generation to follow the old launch schedule. The lineup is expected to include the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max models, followed by the iPhone 17e in March 2026.

By September 2026, Apple is expected to unveil four high-end models: iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone. Following that, the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will be launched in March 2027.

This means Apple's iPhone 18 lineup could include six models by 2027. If they maintain this schedule into the next generation, Apple could sell up to 10 different iPhone models simultaneously.