After iPhone 17 series launch in September, Apple may skip iPhone 18 in 2026

Apple is gearing up for the much-anticipated launch of its iPhone 17 series, expected to debut early next month. However, reports are emerging that the tech giant might alter its launch schedule for the iPhone 18 series in 2026, potentially leaving the standard iPhone 18 out of the lineup's initial unveiling. Rather than discontinuing the iPhone 18 entirely, sources indicate that Apple plans to postpone its release until early 2027, coinciding with the introduction of a new foldable iPhone. This strategic change is believed to be aimed at boosting overall iPhone sales by encouraging customers to consider alternative models, such as the iPhone 18 Air or iPhone 18 Pro, in the absence of the standard variant. Interestingly, the launch of the iPhone 17 appears to be on track, likely to follow the same schedule as its predecessor. This isn't the first indication of a shift in Apple's iPhone 18 launch strategy. Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously suggested that the iPhone 18 would not make its appearance at the September 2026 event, yet he anticipated that the iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max would be unveiled alongside the new foldable device. Adding to the speculation, analyst Jeff Pu from GF Securities recently noted that the foldable iPhone's launch has been postponed, with mass production now expected to kick off in the fourth quarter of 2026, making a September release unlikely. In the meantime, Apple is also refreshing its iPhone lineup this year by retiring the Plus model from the iPhone 16 series in favor of the new iPhone 17 Air, which is being touted as the slimmest and lightest iPhone yet.