In summary Up to six models are projected, among them Apple’s first foldable A September 2026 launch is expected for the high-end models The launch of the base iPhone 18 model and 18e is expected in Spring 2027 It’s a new year and interest in 2026’s big iPhone launches is already building. The iPhone 18 series launch is far away, but rumours and early insights from reliable industry analysts and leakers such as Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo have given us a glimpse of what to expect. Meanwhile, an announcement from a rival company has all but confirmed a foldable iPhone. Here’s everything we know so far about the iPhone 18 series, including its release date, pricing, and specifications. When will the iPhone 18 be released? In summary First iPhone 18 models expected to launch in September Launch could be staggered, with high-end models arriving first More affordable models could appear in the spring Based on Apple’s well-established release schedule, the iPhone 18 series is expected to debut in September 2026 , likely around 8 September if previous announcements are anything to go by. Here’s a look at the announcement dates of recent iPhones: iPhone 17: 9 September 2025 iPhone 16: 9 September 2024 iPhone 15: 12 September 2023 iPhone 14: 7 September 2022 iPhone 13: 14 September 2021 iPhone 12: 13 October 2020 (delayed due to Covid) Pre-orders for the devices typically open on the Friday following the announcement, with phones shipped a week later. However, it’s looking more likely that there may be a change in 2026. Rumours suggest that Apple could split the announcements and launch dates of its iPhone 18 models. In this scenario, the high-end models – the expected foldable iPhone , perhaps an Air, and the iPhone Pro and Pro Max – would launch as usual in September. But the base iPhone 18 and budget 18e would launch at a spring 2027 event. The latest supply chain rumours suggest that the design of the foldable model has been finalised and it’s ready for engineering tests ahead of mass production. Source: MacRumors | 9to5Mac | Bloomberg How much will the iPhone 18 cost? In summary Prices are still speculative at this stage However, similar pricing is expected to iPhone 16 and 17 models The foldable model’s expected cost is even more uncertain Apple kept the starting prices of the 17 lineup very close to last year’s figures. Only the Pro model is more expensive: iPhone 17 (256GB) – £799/$799 iPhone Air (256GB) – £999/$999 iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) – £1,099/$1,099 iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB) £1,199/$1,199 Here are the iPhone 16 prices: Phone 16 (128GB) – £799/$799 iPhone 16 Plus (128GB) – £899/$899 iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) – £999/$999 iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB) – £1,199/$1,199 The iPhone 18’s pricing could be complicated by the effects of tariffs. Otherwise, we would expect the prices of the iPhone 17, Pro and Pro Max models to remain the same, or similar. As for the foldable iPhone, a starting price between $1,999 and $2,500 has been suggested, with the latest figure $2,399. It’s worth saying that rumoured prices come from analyst estimates and are based on current production costings for parts including the hinge, plus supply chain rumours and market factors. As such, these change regularly. Still, the foldable is expected to be around the same price or more expensive than the Samsung Z Fold 7 . The Z Fold 7 starts at $1,999 in the US, although it’s available from £1,799 in the UK. No international pricing has yet been mooted. Source: MacRumors | MacRumors (2) | Android Headlines Which models will Apple launch? In summary A base model, Pro and Pro Max seem assured Foldable model more and more likely It’s not known whether the Air will be updated yearly iPhone 18e expected in a later launch In terms of which models will launch, the base iPhone 18, the iPhone 18 Pro and the Pro Max seem assured and the iPhone Fold seems more likely by the day, judging from the number of supply chain leaks and rumours centred on the device. Comments to reporters by President of Samsung Display Lee Cheon revealed that the company was gearing up to produce 8.6th-generation OLED panels for a foldable phone to a client in North America. Mass production of the panels is slated for the third quarter next year. As Samsung Display is the sole supplier of OLED panels to Apple, this seemingly confirms that the foldable will arrive next fall. The latest supply chain chatter further confirms this, with reports that Apple has finalised its foldable design, having solved the tricky screen crease problem. Leaked CAD renders and a leaked dummy model shown by a Turkish iPhone case manufacturer have shown what appears to be the shape and size of the iPhone Fold. When opened, it will be the shape and size of an iPad mini. Subsy/MakerWorld However, what we don’t know is whether all iPhone 18 models will be available from September 2026. Currently, the expectation is that the Pro, Pro Max and Fold will arrive then, with the iPhone 18 base model instead arriving with the 18e in the spring. Then there’s the question of an Air model. After all, it was noted that when the Air launched in September 2025, it was not named the iPhone 17 Air – merely the Air. That suggests the model may be a one-off, or at least not updated every year. It’s thought that the Air is a stepping-stone product that allowed Apple to build the technology that will be the basis for its foldable device. As such, how often it’s updated – and whether it’s updated at all – will likely depend on how well the first model sells. But the latest rumour has it that an Air 2 model is still expected, in spite of the fact that sales of the original Air have been poor. Upgrades to the Air 2 are thought to be focused on a 2nm chipset, which would improve battery life. It’s also projected for a spring 2027 release, along with the more affordable models. Source: ChosunBiz | 9to5Mac | MacRumors | Digital Chat Station What specs and features will the iPhone 18 have? iPhone Air provides clues as to the foldable’s technology All features are highly speculative at this stage Although the iPhone 18 series is still in development, several rumours and leaks provide insight into its expected features. Design There were surprises in store where the iPhone 17 models’ design was revealed – especially where the Pro and Pro Max models were concerned. It seems that the fresh appearance of the phones has contributed to an uptick in sales, but we don’t expect Apple to redesign the Pro and Pro Max models again only a year later. Instead, incremental changes are likely, and new colourways all but assured: the latest rumours say we can expect the Pro model to come in three new colour options – brown, burgundy and purple. But bear in mind that this information has been translated from the original Chinese tip. The colour names may therefore not be perfectly descriptive of the final products, even if the rumour does turn out to be accurate. It’s also thought that, once again, black won’t be an option. However, one rumour out of China has it that the glass panel on the back of the iPhone 18 Pro models will be semi-transparent. However, it’s possible that this will have a functional, rather than an aesthetic purpose. The Pro is expected to feature a stainless steel vapour chamber and transparent glass may help to improve heat dissipation. The focus will be on the design of the foldable model. And we already have some idea of how it may look, thanks to the existence of the iPhone Air. Industry insiders have claimed that the iPhone Air is a problem-solving stop on the way to Apple’s production of its first foldable. The foldable iPhone will resemble two Air models hinged together – except, of course, with one large screen. Apple has been focusing on eliminating the appearance of a crease on the screen when the phone is unfolded. The Fold’s inner screen is a Samsung design, but the hinge, panel structure and lamination method are all Apple. And it’s the hinge design that should prevent a permanent crease on the screen. Elsewhere, the latest leaks say we should expect a fairly wide foldable, with a main display of 7.58 inches and an outer display of 5.25 inches. This somewhat contradicts an earlier research note from Japanese firm Mizuho Securities, which had the outer display at 5.38 inches, although the inner display was the same. Samsung Display showed a concept phone with a creaseless screen during CES, which rumour has it, uses the technology developed with and for Apple. Ice Universe The screen will unlock via a Touch ID button on the side to help keep it slim. Apple Materials and build quality are expected to once again feature durable ceramic and titanium elements – but Apple may consider replacing the anodised coating that’s currently used on the aluminium iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models in favour of something more scratch-resistant. Display Apple has continually enhanced its display technology, and the iPhone 18 series will likely follow suit. Advancements in ProMotion technology and higher peak brightness are anticipated. The Pro models could feature an even smoother 120Hz refresh rate and more energy-efficient OLED panels. Tipster Digital Chat Station has allegedly leaked the display specifics of several iPhone models: iPhone 18 Pro: Its 6.27-inch LTPO panel with a 120Hz refresh rate will be the same but the difference is an under-display cutout for Face ID iPhone 18 Pro Max: A 6.86-inch LTPO display, a 120Hz refresh rate, and the redesigned under-display cutout iPhone Air 2: 6.55-inch LTPO 120Hz display, but with a standard Dynamic Island Apple Performance Apple is expected to boost the RAM of the iPhone 18 base model to 12GB – 4GB up from the iPhone 17. This will bring it in line with the high-end models and, crucially, allow it to run AI models on the phone itself, without resorting to the cloud. More models in the iPhone 18 could get the benefit of Apple’s second-generation 5G modem. Apple’s first 5G modem, the C1, launched in the iPhone 16e after years of development. Its successor, the C1X, can only be found in the iPhone Air – not in any of the other iPhone 17 models. But the iPhone 18 models, including the Pro, Pro Mx and Apple’s foldable, could well debut with a C2 modem. Chris Martin / Foundry Meanwhile, at this stage at least, it’s speculated that all iPhone 18 models will run on Apple’s upcoming A20 chip. Pro models may run on an A20 Pro variant. This will be the brand’s first use of TSMC’s 2nm process, known as N2. More transistors in a smaller space means up to 15% faster performance and 30% better power efficiency from the A19 chip found in the iPhone 18, and a performance bump on the A19 Pro found in the Pro models. Cameras Apple’s cameras are a standout feature, and the iPhone 18 Pro models are rumoured to introduce variable aperture technology to the main camera. This feature will allow users to control how much light enters the lens, enabling superior control over depth of field and enhancing low-light photography. Apple Samsung is reportedly working on a new three-layer stacked camera sensor called ‘PD-TR-Logic,’ designed for the iPhone 18 series. This image sensor is expected to enhance the camera’s responsiveness, while also offering advantages such as reduced photo noise, improved dynamic range, and more. While the Pro models are likely to receive the most significant upgrades, the standard iPhone 18 may also benefit from some of this new technology. As far as the selfie camera is concerned, the Pro and Pro Max models are expected to come with a smaller hole punch for their selfie cameras. It’s projected to be paired with under-display Face ID tech. However, the bigger rumour is that all models, including the iPhone 18 base model, will get a significant upgrade to the selfie camera, to 24Mp from the current generation’s 18Mp. Battery & Charging Details about battery capacity and charging speeds for the iPhone 18 series remain sparse. However, Apple’s commitment to improving battery life and charging efficiency suggests incremental enhancements. Chris Martin / Foundry With growing competition in the fast-charging space, the iPhone 18 series could support faster wired and MagSafe charging capabilities. Software The iPhone 18 series is expected to run on iOS 27, offering new features and capabilities tailored to the hardware. Apple typically introduces innovations in usability, security and AI with every new iOS version, and we can expect the iPhone 18 series to showcase these improvements. We can expect AI developments across the handsets – something prefigured by the fact that Apple has ordered LPDDR5X RAM from supplier Samsung for the next iPhone line-up. Finally, Apple and Google issued a joint statement confirming a rumour that’s been swirling for some time. The expected Siri overhaul will be powered by Gemini, but it’ll likely be a bespoke version running on Apple’s own servers to ensure it can retain its high standards over users’ data privacy. Connor Jewiss / Foundry Sources: Mark Gurman | DigiTimes | Ming-Chi Kuo | 9to5Mac (1) | (2) | (3) | Apple Magazine | Vietnam Net | GSMArena | (2) | (3) | (4) | MacRumors | Google That’s all we currently know about the iPhone 18 series. You can find out more detail on the expected iPhone foldable and get our top buying recommendations in our round-up of the best phones we’ve tested.