Apple again reported to skip launching the iPhone 18 this year

Apple has long been rumored to launch the iPhone 18 series and the iPhone Ultra in phases, with multiple reports claiming the iPhone 18 won't launch this year. Now, a new media report, citing Apple supplier Pegatron, again states that the iPhone 18 won't launch this year and will arrive in 2027 instead.

During the earnings call for Q2 2026, Pegatron confirmed that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be launched next month, but the iPhone 18 is expected to launch in Q1 2027, meaning anytime between January and March 2027. Previous reports claimed the iPhone 18 would arrive in March next year.

One reason Apple is skipping the iPhone 18 this year is the chipset and memory shortage, which has led to an increase in smartphone prices. Moreover, the source claims there's also a bottleneck in the semiconductor manufacturing process.

If Apple indeed postpones the iPhone 18 launch, it will be a notable change to its launch schedule, as the Cupertino-based tech giant has launched the base iPhones alongside the Pro models from the iPhone 11 to iPhone 17 series.

Rumors claim Apple's September event will give us the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple's first folding iPhone, reportedly called iPhone Ultra. Then, in March 2027, we'll get the iPhone 18, the iPhone 18e, and the iPhone Air 2.

Source (in Chinese)