The iPhone 17 series may be the last time we see a basic iPhone model launch in the fall, as ETNews, citing sources inside Apple's supply chain, says we’re in for a shake-up.
This year's iPhone 17 launch should still happen in the familiar way — with all models arriving at once in September, ETNews explains. But next year, while we'll still get a cheaper iPhone 17e model in spring, the September 2026 launch will feature the new iPhone Fold but no standard iPhone 18. Instead, that model will then launch alongside the iPhone 18e in 2027.
This matches what a report from back in May alleged about the iPhone 18 launch plan.
This seems like a big change, but Apple's arguably already been laying the groundwork. The iPhone 16e that launched earlier this year is evidence of Apple trying to reestablish a more affordable iPhone option that launches separately from the others. Meanwhile, rumors have told us the iPhone 16 Plus will be replaced by a similar but slimmer and more expensive iPhone 17 Air this fall.
Therefore, it seems like we'll get two iPhone launches a year going forward: the September launch for four premium devices, and then a spring launch with two cheaper models to round out the family.
Apple's two new iPhones
This new launch pattern relies on the existence of two models that Apple has yet to announce. The first we'll likely see of these is the iPhone 17 Air, designed to be the skinniest iPhone of them all. It looks like it'll lose a camera, and potentially battery capacity, in order to achieve this, but the result should be an impressive piece of engineering.
Meanwhile, the long-rumored iPhone Fold is thought to be finally breaking cover next year. This one's rumored to be a book-style foldable similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, except with the Apple touch and hopefully more refined displays and battery.
For now, we're likely less than a month away from the iPhone 17 series launching. If you want to check in on what's tipped for the other models in the line-up, then check our iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max rumor hubs.
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