Apple delays iPhone 18 launch to early next year, focuses on Pro models

Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro series will launch this fall, while the base iPhone 18 is pushed to the first quarter of next year, Pegatron executives said on an earnings call, a story reported by MacRumors from the Economic Daily News. The announcement also mentioned a cheaper iPhone 18e and a new iPhone Air model, but those will not hit stores until next year. The delay means the flagship Pro models will arrive in September, but the standard version will miss the fall wave.

The timing matters because Apple usually releases its main iPhone line in September each year, and a fall launch keeps the brand in the news. A delay for the base model signals supply chain or design challenges that could push production back. Analysts note that the company is juggling new chip production, a shift to more sustainable manufacturing, and a need to keep its margin high. The news also raises questions about how Apple will compete with Samsung’s Galaxy S series, which comes out in the same window.

Pegatron, one of Apple’s biggest contract manufacturers, has faced production bottlenecks