Apple is expected to change its usual iPhone launch schedule this year, with the standard iPhone 18 reportedly missing from the company’s September event. Instead, Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the new iPhone Ultra first, while buyers looking for the regular model will have to wait until early 2027.
Reports about Apple splitting its iPhone launch schedule have circulated since May 2025, and the plan now appears increasingly likely as the September event approaches. Apple has traditionally introduced its main iPhone lineup together each fall, so delaying the base model marks a major change to that pattern.
When could the iPhone 18 launch?
The standard iPhone 18 is expected to arrive alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 during the first few months of 2027. Based on Apple’s recent launches, February or March looks like the most likely window.
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| Expected launch | iPhone models |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Ultra |
| Early 2027 | iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, iPhone Air 2 |
Apple has not confirmed why it plans to split the lineup, although the expanded range of iPhone models and ongoing memory supply pressures are possible factors.
For buyers who want Apple’s next standard iPhone without paying Pro or Ultra prices, the reported schedule means waiting several additional months for the iPhone 18.
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