No iPhone 18 announced today: Here’s why

Today at its September event, Apple unveiled iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, but there was no base model iPhone 18 introduced. Here’s why. iPhone 18 base model expected to launch in early 2027, as Apple shifts release schedule Normally, it might be common to refer to today’s Apple event as the “iPhone 18 event.” But in a move that likely surprised many, Apple didn’t announce an iPhone 18 today—at least not the base model. Instead, the company debuted three high-end new iPhones only: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo. This flagship lineup differs significantly from Apple’s prior pattern of shipping a new base iPhone at the same time as Pro models. But reporting dating all the way back to May 2025 predicted such a change was coming. Per widespread reports, Apple’s three new iPhone models introduced today will be joined by three more debuts in early 2027: iPhone 18 iPhone 18e iPhone Air 2 So the base iPhone 18 hasn’t been canceled, it’s just shipping later than usual. Why the change? One theory is that since Apple wants to expand the iPhone lineup more than ever, with new models like the foldable Duo, it didn’t want to overcrowd the fall. Thus, splitting major iPhone launches into fall and spring cycles might be advantageous. Another possible reason is that Apple saw the current memory shortage coming, and knew it would be a struggle to meet demand if it launched the base iPhone 18 at the same time as Pro and Duo models. In any case, the iPhone 18 is still coming—just not until the early months of 2027. What do you think of Apple’s split-release strategy for the iPhone 18 line? Let us know in the comments. For more Apple event coverage, here’s our dedicated news hub. *Buy iPhone with 15% discount from Apple refurbished Best iPhone accessories AirPods Pro 3 (now only $199, down from $249) MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone 10-year AirTag battery case 100W USB-C fast charging power adapter AirTag 2 (now only $79 for 4-pack, down from $99) FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.