iPhone 18 Release Date: Spring Delay Boosts Autumn iPhone 18 Pro Sales - Forbes

What the report says

Forbes contributor Ewan Spence reported on July 25, 2026, that Apple is expected to separate its next iPhone rollout, with iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models arriving in September 2026 while the standard iPhone 18 is held until spring 2027. The report frames the timing as a deliberate commercial shift rather than a supply-chain problem, saying it would leave buyers in the fall upgrade window without a current-generation entry-level option.

According to Forbes, the split could steer customers toward the higher-priced Pro line during the important holiday quarter. Spence estimates that shoppers who would normally choose the base model may face roughly a $200 step up to the Pro, or keep an older phone longer. The article says removing a new $799-class model from the autumn lineup could lift Apple’s average selling price even if some consumers postpone upgrades.

The report also links the product schedule to Apple’s artificial-intelligence plans. Forbes says iOS 27 and expanded Apple Intelligence and Siri AI features are expected to be marketed alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, with beta software indicating that 12GB of memory is needed for the full set of local AI tools. That would make the Pro models the clearest route for buyers wanting those capabilities in autumn 2026, while the specifications of the delayed base iPhone 18 remain uncertain.

The potential change matters because Apple’s September iPhone cadence has long shaped carrier contracts, retail promotions and holiday buying. If the reported schedule holds, shoppers may have to choose among older iPhone 17 models, more expensive iPhone 18 Pro devices, or waiting until 2027.