Apple is known to follow the September ritual of launching its new mainline iPhones for the year, but that’s about to change. A new leak suggests that the release timing will be different for 2026. The popular Apple tipster, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, has released a detailed report on when to expect the iPhone devices and what devices to expect in 2026 and 2027.
According to Gurman, this new pattern won’t just last for the Apple devices over the next 18 months, it will continue for years to come. So below, here’s a look at how Apple might be shaking things up.
iPhones for September/fall 2026
Gurman states that the next iPhones will come out in the fall of 2026, which is Apple’s usual release period. Premium iPhones like the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and probably the first foldable iPhone will arrive then. We won’t get to see the mid-range iPhones like the base iPhone 18, or any device from the SE or e line in September.
iPhone 18 will come in March/spring 2027
After launching the flagship iPhones in September 2026, the next iPhones will be the mid-range devices six months later in March 2027. Although there have been rumours of the next iPhone Air, the iPhone Air 2 might not launch until 2027. It will be accompanied by the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e.
Basically, what Apple wants to achieve is releasing the lower-end models in the first half of the year, followed by the higher-end devices in the second half. This will take effect from 2027. The leak also reveals that the iPhone Air 2 was never intended for a 2026 launch, disregarding previous rumours of the iPhone being delayed.
The iPhone Air was a testbed for the foldable iPhone
The iPhone Air 2 will receive a processor upgrade to improve the battery life. It will get a new 2nm chipset. Rumours suggest that the next iPhone Air will have a dual camera, but Gurman suggests it’s unlikely. The iPhone Air served as a prototype for the coming foldable iPhone. Apple’s first foldable iPhone will use similar materials, miniaturisation techniques, internal components, batteries, and software optimisations as the iPhone Air. Even though the iPhone Air didn’t sell well, the company isn’t really bothered since it was a preparation for the next big thing.
These are still unconfirmed by the company yet, but considering Gurman’s track record of sharing accurate leaks, this might just turn out to be true. Spreading the iPhone releases across the year reduces the pressure on workers and increases revenue for Apple. It no longer has to rely on a one-time release with peak sales and slower sales afterwards.
