Recently, multiple reports have claimed that Apple will change its iPhone release timeline starting in 2026. Starting with the iPhone 18 lineup, we will have a separate launch, with the higher-end models launching in the fall, and the entry-level models launching the following spring.
Although this seems like a strange decision, it will have some noteworthy benefits for all iPhone users.
a summary
In case you missed it, the split iPhone launch rumor basically goes like this:
- Fall 2026: iPhone 18 Air, 18 Pro/Pro Max, and foldable iPhone
- Spring 2027: iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e
Instead of launching the entire flagship iPhone lineup in September, it will be split 6 months apart. The iPhone 17 lineup will continue to launch in September, which could mark the last normal year for an iPhone launch. This information comes from analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Wayne Ma of Information.
Better technology
First and foremost, having Apple prepare two separate phases for the iPhone launch will require it to step things up a bit. By rolling out the base model of the iPhone for a separate launch in the spring, it would require Apple to make the phone more interesting, for two reasons.
First, the entry-level iPhone has always lived in a strange state. It’s still a new device, but it’s not the best out there. Sure, it’s cheaper, but it’s always lived in the shadow of the Pro models, even in the years when Apple has made impressive upgrades to the basic iPhone.
according to InformationApple is making this shift to stimulate iPhone sales. Since the base iPhone is a separate, premium launch, I think we’re more likely to see bigger upgrades with the entry-level iPhone, especially since Apple won’t need to do a balancing act against its own advertising.
Moreover, some supply chain constraints may be a thing of the past. If there’s a particular component that Apple wants to integrate into the entire lineup, but its width is restricted, Apple will now be able to do so without having to worry about having a less-than-ideal width.
This is the main reason why 120Hz ProMotion displays have been absent from the base iPhone for so long. LTPO displays were not produced in large enough quantities to be placed on every iPhone at launch.
Always a good time to buy
On top of better technology, there’s a second benefit: There’ll never be a bad time to buy iPhones.
Every year, people buy new iPhones in the late summer months, like July and August, and then are taunted by the tech-savvy people in their lives that the next iPhone is about to come out.
If they’re buying a basic iPhone, instead of buying a phone that’s 10-11 months old, it’ll only be 4-5 months old, and they’ll still be less than halfway through that phone’s release cycle when they buy it in the summer.
Many people buy technology to benefit from it in the long term, and sometimes that happens in life. Two different iPhones are released each year, which means that no matter when you buy your new iPhone, it will be 6 months old at most, instead of 1 year.
Cheap iPhones
Last but not least, the split iPhone release schedule rumor seems to indicate one thing: that the new iPhone “e” will become an annual release.
Introduced earlier this year, the iPhone 16e takes the body of the iPhone 14 and packs it full of iPhone 16 features, including USB-C, Apple Intelligence support, a 48-megapixel camera, and more.
Historically, these cheap iPhones (ex iPhone SE) had a 2-4 year release schedule.
And with the annual release schedule, there will now be more iPhones available for those on a limited budget. Granted, the iPhone 16e starts at $599, and it certainly doesn’t reach the same budget demographic that the iPhone 16e does. iPhone SE an act.
My favorite recommendations for Apple accessories:
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