Overview
- Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital says iPhone 18 trial builds will begin once Chinese factories resume after the holiday in late February 2026.
- The leaker adds that iPhone 18 Pro production lines are already prepared, suggesting the Pro hardware design is locked.
- Coverage reiterates a split launch plan, with Pro models expected in September 2026 and the standard iPhone 18 and 18e targeted for spring 2027.
- External changes are described as modest for the Pro models, while rumored internal upgrades include A20/A20 Pro on TSMC’s 2nm process, under-screen Face ID testing, a variable aperture camera, and Apple’s C2 modem.
- Outlets stress that trial production is a small-scale validation run rather than the start of mass production, and Apple has not confirmed the reports.