Apple has officially deviated from its long-standing tradition of launching the entire iPhone lineup at its annual autumn event. During the recent presentation, the company introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a new ultra-premium model, while the standard iPhone 18 was notably absent from the stage.
According to supply chain reports and manufacturing data, the release of the base model has been rescheduled. The standard iPhone 18 is now expected to debut in the first quarter of 2027, specifically around March. This shift marks a significant change in Apple's product release cycle and hardware architecture management.
The decision to decouple the release schedule aims to alleviate pressure on supply chains and logistics. By splitting the launch into two phases, Apple can focus its autumn event on high-margin flagship devices equipped with 2nm chips and advanced imaging systems, while targeting the mainstream market in the spring.
The spring launch window will feature the standard iPhone 18, the budget-friendly iPhone 18e, and a revised Air model. This strategy allows the company to maintain momentum during the off-season and prevents internal competition between the base models and new, experimental form factors during the autumn sales period.
