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Apple Plans Twice-Yearly iPhone Releases Starting 2026, With Pro Models First

The reported cadence shift aims to ease supply pressure and smooth revenue as Apple prepares a foldable iPhone and manages limited 2‑nanometer chip allocation.

Overview

  • Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports Apple will debut the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable in fall 2026, with the iPhone 18, 18e, and possibly an iPhone Air 2 following in spring 2027.
  • Gurman says the iPhone Air 2 was not planned for 2026 and that claims of a sales-driven delay are inaccurate, noting Apple only expected the Air to account for roughly 6%–8% of new iPhone sales.
  • The next iPhone Air is expected to adopt a 2‑nm A‑series chip to boost performance and battery life, while a second rear camera is viewed as technically possible but unlikely for the niche model.
  • The split release strategy is described as a way to reduce strain on suppliers and internal teams, spread revenue across the year, and create two clear marketing windows to counter competitors.
  • Gurman also points to a high‑end 2027 iPhone with a curved glass screen and an under‑display front camera, framed as a separate anniversary‑year update.