Rather than selecting from four new iPhone models every autumn, consumers may soon have the option to choose from three models released in both the spring and the fall. According to a report from The Information, Apple plans to alter the release cycle of its smartphones, starting with the iPhone 18 in 2026. The report, which cites three unnamed supply chain sources, suggests that the more expensive models will be launched first, with the Pro models retaining their fall release window and the standard model iPhones being released in the following spring.

This change marks a significant departure from the traditional all-at-once release schedule, but it may indicate that Apple is looking to make room for other models, such as the long-rumored foldable iPhone. If the report is accurate, Apple will release the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and potentially the foldable iPhone in fall 2026, followed by the iPhone 18 base model, the iPhone 18 Slim, and the iPhone 18e in spring 2027.

For those who have been closely following Apple’s releases, this change may not come as a surprise. While the company has traditionally released its annual batch of new iPhones in September or October since the iPhone 5, Apple has started to deviate from this schedule with the introduction of the iPhone SE models, which are usually released in March or April. More recently, Apple introduced the iPhone 16e in February to replace the SE range. As for the iPhone 17, we still expect Apple to follow its regular schedule with four new devices to be revealed this September.