Apple to Delay Base iPhone 18 Launch to Early 2027, Premium Models Set for Fall 2026
Apple plans to release the iPhone 18 Pro and an Ultra foldable in fall 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 will be postponed to the first quarter of 2027 due to component shortages.
Apple supplier Pegatron said on an earnings call that its iPhone 18 Pro models are slated for a fall 2026 launch, but the base iPhone 18 will not be available until the first quarter of 2027. The company also indicated that lower-priced variants, including an iPhone 18e and a new iPhone Air, are expected to debut around the same time as the premium devices.
"Memory and chip shortages are causing the peak shipping seasons to shift, as our customers like Apple spread out parts and prioritize higher-priced models with larger margins," a Pegatron executive said.
Analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and The Information had previously reported that Apple intended to launch only its premium iPhones in fall 2026, and an earlier supplier statement confirmed a postponement of a phone launch to early 2027. In addition to the iPhone 18 Pro, a rumored "Ultra" foldable iPhone is also expected to arrive this fall.