Apple's iPhone 18 Pro slated for fall, base model delayed to next year

Pegatron, a key Apple assembler, disclosed on an earnings call that the iPhone 18 Pro series will be released this fall, while the base iPhone 18 will not appear until the first quarter of the next year. The company also hinted that lower-priced variants such as the iPhone 18e and a new iPhone Air are slated for a similar early-next-year timeframe, aligning with long-standing speculation. Executives linked the staggered schedule to ongoing memory and chip shortages, which are forcing Apple to spread shipments and focus on higher-margin premium devices.

This confirmation backs earlier reports from analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo and The Information that only premium models would launch this year, as well as a prior supplier comment about a delay to early 2027. In addition to the Pro line, rumors persist that an “Ultra” foldable iPhone will also debut this fall.