Overview
- Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital says small-batch trial production for the standard iPhone 18 will start after factories return from the Lunar New Year break in late February 2026.
- The same source reports iPhone 18 Pro assembly lines are already built, suggesting the Pro hardware design is locked, with early fully assembled prototypes expected by late February.
- Multiple outlets reiterate a split release timeline with iPhone 18 Pro models and a foldable targeted for September 2026 followed by the base iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e in spring 2027.
- Pro models are widely reported to test under‑display Face ID with a visible punch‑hole selfie camera, though at least one report cautions that exterior changes could be more modest than suggested.
- Leaks point to A20 and A20 Pro chips with the Pro possibly on TSMC’s 2nm process, a next‑gen C2 modem, and camera upgrades including a mechanical iris and new stacked sensors; none of these details are confirmed by Apple.