Apple Said to Follow Twice-a-Year Launch Schedule for iPhone Budget Models to Debut in First Half of Year
During its annual iPhone spectacle, Apple might bung in a sequel. For years, the month of September would indicate the appearance of all a new iPhone. Whispers from Cupertino suggest a massive plot twist: an iPhone launch divided into two parts. Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known analyst, hints at a staggered introduction in which the topmost tier of iPhones gets the spotlight in autumn while the more affordable ones begin their journey in spring. Is Apple pulling out and rewriting the launch rules? The answer will emerge with time, as to whether the split will become the new normal.
Apple Might Shake Up iPhone Launch Timeline
Forget the waiting till fall for the iPhone fix! Apple is probably stirring the pot, says TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. So prepare yourself: We might be looking at iPhones launched twice a year- the budget models to be held in the first half of the year, and to follow the high-profile Pro models announced in fall.
Speaking of flagships, Kuo foresees 2024 for the launch of the iPhone 17 series, continuing the expected show of four models: the big hammer iPhone 17 Pro Max, the working iPhone 17 Pro, the light and sleek iPhone 17 Slim, and the generic iPhone 17.
But the actual thing that caught my attention is the possibility of the iPhone 17e in the first half of 2026, according to Kuo. So, get ready for even more frequent launches from Apple, perhaps something for everyone, twice a year.
Hold tight, Apple fans! Rumors picked up from Cupertino point at some staggered iPhone launch from late 2026. So no more simultaneous releases: Apple might just unveil the stylish iPhone 18 Slim White alongside a powerhouse iPhone 18 Pro and the all-out iPhone 18 Pro Max potentially sharing the stage with Apple’s first-ever foldable iPhone this September. But there is more! The common iPhone 18 and a cheaper iPhone 18e are said to come later, probably crossing into our waters somewhere in early 2027.
Apple’s future is folding, sleek, and seriously powerful. A late 2027 setting will see Kuo predicting an iPhone explosion: a second-generation foldable, magnificent ultra-slim iPhone 19 Slim, and the monstrous iPhone 19 Pro and Pro Max.
Such talks have been going on in the tech realm for a while now. Incremental updates are a thing of the past; consider the iPhone 19 Slim with a screen larger than that of the iPhone 18 Slim. But before all that, one has to focus on the expected iPhone 17 Air, which has a 6.6-inch OLED display offering stunning smoothness at 120Hz.
Kuo says Apple might be possibly changing the iPhone game plan by syncing two launches per year for intensified competition, mainly the booming Chinese market. Instead of throwing an annual gala of sorts around a single big reveal, new iPhone models should be hitting the shelves befittingly in the first half of the year. The move is meant to close the marketing gap just so created by the rivals. And as the smartphone competition pains to become larger, Apple needs a bigger selection of iPhones with Kuo implying that having all new models out in one big bang sort of dilutes the impact of each pair of two.
Forget September iPhones. Apple might be dead set on breaking tradition. Insider whispers hint at a delayed launch for the 18th iPhone, potentially breaking the tech titan’s long-held autumn ritual. The report by The Information kindles the fire more, speculating on a staggered launch, getting fans to ponder: Will Apple rewrite its own history?
