Apple To Split iPhone Launches Starting 2026, Foldable Model May Debut With iPhone 18 Pro: Report

Apple Inc. AAPL is reportedly planning a significant shift in its iPhone release strategy, beginning with the iPhone 18 series in 2026.

What Happened: According to three unnamed supply chain sources under the new approach, Apple would release its high-end models, such as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, in the fall. The more affordable models like the base iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Slim and iPhone 18e would follow in the spring of 2027, reported Engadget on Sunday (via The Information).

The report also suggests Apple could debut its long-rumored foldable iPhone alongside the Pro models in fall 2026.

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This marks a major departure from Apple’s current release strategy, which traditionally sees all new iPhone models unveiled together every September.

While Apple has stuck to a fall release window since the iPhone 5 in 2012, it has shown some signs of schedule flexibility. The iPhone SE line typically debuted in the spring, and Apple released the iPhone 16e in February 2025—possibly as a replacement for the SE range, the report said.

For now, Apple is expected to stick with its traditional four-model launch for the iPhone 17 series this September.

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Why It’s Important: Apple reported fiscal second-quarter revenue of $95.36 billion, beating Wall Street’s estimate of $94.53 billion. Looking ahead to the June quarter, the company expects revenue to grow in the low-to-mid-single-digit range, with a projected gross margin between 45.5% and 46.5%.

iPhone sales came in at $46.84 billion, up from $45.96 billion in the same quarter last year.

During the earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company anticipates a $900 million cost impact from tariffs in the June quarter.

Price Action: Apple shares dropped 3.74% during Friday’s regular trading session and slipped another 0.15% in after-hours trading, ending the day at $205.04, according to Benzinga Pro data.

According to Benzinga Edge’s Stock Rankings, Apple holds a growth score of 44.92% and a momentum score of 77.92%. Click here to see how it stacks up against other leading tech stocks.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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