Tim Cook’s team is preparing a major change that will affect the global technological landscape, and it’s not about a completely revolutionary new device. It’s strictly tied to the way the Californian company launches its iPhones every year, with its traditional September event. This is going to change completely.
As The Information has revealed, the company will stop unveiling all of its models in September starting in 2026. Instead, it plans to spread out the launch: the most advanced models, including the iPhone 18 Pro and the long-awaited foldable iPhone, will arrive in the fall of 2026, while standard models, such as the iPhone 18 and the successor to the iPhone 16e, will be delayed until spring of 2027.
When are iPhones released?
The reasons behind this change point directly to the fact that Apple will have, for the first time, a lineup consisting of six iPhone devices, which could lead to logistical and production issues they’ve never had to face before. That’s why spreading the launches throughout the year would take pressure off their supply chains while maintaining media attention throughout the year. It would be an immaculate strategic move.
The big star of fall 2026 will be the foldable iPhone, a much-talked-about device that finally appears to have a date. Apple will be opting for a book-style design, similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold. It will have a 5.7-inch external display for closed use and a nearly 8-inch internal display when unfolded, offering a hybrid phone-tablet experience. Although many details remain to be confirmed, the leak has already raised huge expectations about how Apple will reinterpret this type of device.
Along with the foldable model, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will also be the stars of the fall. These models could mark the beginning of a new era in design thanks to the integration of the Face ID system under the screen. This means that facial recognition would work without the characteristic top cutout, although a small hole would still remain for the front camera. If confirmed, Apple would eliminate one of the most recognizable (and controversial) elements of its current physical interface.
The most affordable models will be available in spring 2027. The “standard” iPhone 18 and a new version of the iPhone 16e will arrive later, with the aim of maintaining a steady pace of releases that will allow for renewed interest in the brand throughout the year. Furthermore, this second batch of devices will be largely produced in India, thus reducing dependence on China.
This change in the calendar isn’t a simple logistical restructuring. Apple is preparing for a new era in which the iPhone lineup will be more diverse, segmented, and strategic than ever. Breaking with the September tradition means taking risks, but it also opens the door to a more flexible future, so that each model has its time and place in the brand’s ecosystem.
