We've been noting ad nauseam that Apple was likely to opt for a bifurcated launch strategy for the upcoming iPhone 18 lineup. And, in light of the supply constraints that Apple identified in its recent earnings call, such a strategy makes perfect sense.
Now, another report has added to the growing chorus, reiterating that Apple is likely to launch the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max first in the fall of 2026 alongside the iPhone Fold.
Apple is leaning towards prioritizing the more premium iPhone 18 variants in 2026, as memory and advanced node constraints limit the supply of the volume-heavy models
Nikkei Asia is out with a new report, reiterating a fairly persistent rumor: Apple will launch the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max alongside the iPhone Fold in the fall of 2026, delaying the base iPhone 18 until the spring of 2027, when it is expected to debut alongside the iPhone 18e, though, we should add, the report remains mum on the specific prospects for Apple's next-gen budget offering.
The report also adds that Apple is unlikely to launch the iPhone Air 2 this year, which aligns with separate reports from The Information and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, but contradicts a tidbit from Weibo-based Fixed Focus Digital, who has remained adamant that the next-gen ultra-slim iPhone will launch in the fall of 2026.
Of course, such a bifurcated launch for the iPhone 18 variants makes perfect sense given the dual headwinds that Apple is currently contending with. As we explained in a dedicated post recently, Apple identified two key supply chain challenges at its earnings call earlier this week: memory chips and TSMC's choked advanced node capacity.
Specifically, the ongoing AI mania has cornered much of the global DRAM capacity, leaving reduced capacity for mobile-focused LPDDR, while TSMC's cutting-edge 2nm node is contending with advanced packaging capacity bottlenecks. What's more, as declared by Tim Cook himself at the earnings call, TSMC's 3nm is currently "gating" Apple's Q2 supply of chips as production lines are literally choked.
Against this backdrop, Apple would presumably want to delay its volume-heavy iPhone 18 variants until either the supply constraints ease a bit or it is able to build a sufficient inventory for these models.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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