Apple to Split iPhone Launches Into Spring and Fall Starting in 2026 [Report]

A new report from South Korea's ETNews claims Apple is preparing a major overhaul of its iPhone release schedule, shifting to a twice-yearly cycle beginning in 2026. The move would see standard and budget-friendly models launch in the spring, while the company's premium Pro, Air, and foldable iPhones remain anchored to the fall window.

According to the report, the transition will begin with the iPhone 18 lineup. Apple is expected to skip the release of a standard iPhone model in 2026, delaying it until the spring of 2027. That fall, the company will instead unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the thinner iPhone 18 Air, and its first foldable iPhone.

From 2027 onward, Apple plans to fully establish the new cadence: the spring lineup will include the standard iPhone 18 alongside a new entry-level iPhone 18e, while the fall will bring the iPhone 19 series and a second-generation foldable.


ETNews notes that the change reflects Apple's effort to manage an expanding product portfolio. With foldables joining the lineup, the company is spacing out releases to ensure each device gets more attention in the market. The strategy could also help Apple counter rivals like Samsung, which often release flagships early in the year.

The report adds that Apple has already shared its plans with supply chain partners. Sources familiar with the matter said: "Apple will launch the e model and the standard model together in the first half of the year, while the second half will feature four devices including the foldable. Only next year will the standard model's launch be delayed."

The shake-up follows other recent lineup adjustments. Earlier this year, Apple replaced the underperforming Plus model with the slimmer "Air," and renamed its budget iPhone from the long-running SE brand to the new "e" designation — aligning numbering with the main series (e.g., iPhone 16e).

Industry watchers say the revised launch schedule is aimed at boosting iPhone sales, which slipped slightly last year. Market research firm Canalys estimates Apple shipped 225.9 million iPhones in 2024, down from 229.1 million in 2023.


If accurate, the new approach would mark the biggest change to Apple's iPhone strategy in more than a decade, giving customers two major upgrade opportunities each year instead of one.

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