Only iPhone Pro models will arrive in September, now you have to wait until 2027 to buy iPhone 18!

 Only iPhone Pro models will arrive in September, now you have to wait until 2027 to buy iPhone 18!

Breaking with its long-established tradition, Apple is preparing to make a major change in the public schedule of the upcoming iPhone 18. According to the details recently released by Pegatron, one of the company's main suppliers, Apple has seen a significant change in the sales and delivery schedule of its upcoming smartphones.

For a long time, Apple has been releasing all its new models at once in September. However, according to new reports, this will not be the case with the iPhone 18 series. Apple will launch premium models like the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September this year, while consumers will have to wait until the first quarter of 2027 for the basic iPhone 18.

Supply problems are the main reason

The main reason behind Apple's sudden change in its strategy is believed to be the disruption and shortage in the supply of parts. The shortage of memory chips and other key electronic components has severely affected smartphone production. According to Taiwan's Economic Daily News and MacRumors, Pegatron officials said in a recent briefing that the shortage of memory and other chipsets has changed the industry's shipping period and the smartphone production.

Suppliers and smartphone manufacturers are now under pressure to use the limited parts they have available in which products. In such a situation, Apple has adopted a strategy of prioritizing expensive models that offer higher profit margins. Since the Pro and Pro Max models are more expensive and this brings more profit to the company, Apple seems to plan to spend the limited materials available on these models. It has been analyzed that this will help Apple protect its profits and adopt flexibility in supply management.

Change in traditional schedule

Apple has been releasing standard and Pro models in all series from iPhone 11 to iPhone 17 simultaneously in September. If the news that has just come out proves to be true, this will be a big change in Apple's history. Earlier in 2020, the release date of the iPhone 12 was pushed back to October due to the Corona epidemic. However, this is the first time that models of the same series are being released in such a way that they are being released months apart.

According to the latest report, a total of 6 new iPhone models are set to be released this year, the schedule of which is expected to be as follows:

iPhone 18 Pro: September, 2026

iPhone 18 Pro Max: September, 2026

iPhone Ultra (Foldable): September, 2026

iPhone 18 (Standard): March, 2027

iPhone 18-e: March, 2027

iPhone Air2: March 2027

First foldable iPhone: iPhone Ultra

Although the cheaper models of the iPhone 18 will be delayed, this year's September event is expected to be very special. Because Apple is rumored to release its first foldable smartphone this year, which is said to be called the iPhone Ultra.

The device is said to feature a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner display, with a minimal crease in the middle. MacRumors has reported that many within Apple are referring to the foldable device as the iPhone Ultra.

According to Bloomberg and Forbes, this year's big iPhone event is likely to take place on September 9. Apple usually holds such events on the second Tuesday or Wednesday of September, and this date fits in.

Price hike and technical challenges may increase

Taiwan's Pegatron is gradually shifting its resources from smartphones to AI servers. The rising cost and shortage of memory chips are expected to lead to a significant increase in the price of upcoming iPhones. Memory manufacturers have not been able to make profits as expected in the past, and now, with demand soaring due to AI, Pegatron's analysis suggests that it could take another two years for the supply system to balance. It is estimated that the supply and demand for memory will normalize only by 2028.

Apple uses advanced packaging technology to produce the system on chip (SOC) required for its premium phones. However, this process has now reached a point where it has to wait for memory chips. On the other hand, the demand for AI servers has occupied most of the memory and semiconductor resources available in the market, which has a direct impact on smartphone production.

What will be the impact on consumers?

Apple's new split-launch strategy seems to be confusing for consumers. In the past, all options were available in the same season, which made it easier for buyers. However, now customers looking for a cheap or basic model will have to wait until March 2027. This may also be a strategy that could force customers who want to experience the new technology immediately to buy the expensive Pro model.

According to Deng Guoyan, CEO of Pegatron, the company is investing heavily in the AI ​​server business as well as smartphones. As Apple prepares to add Google search integration and other AI features to Siri for its new devices, the hardware The lack of raw materials has become a major challenge for the company.

Is the annual iPhone cycle that has been going on for years now on its way to becoming history? This will be made clear by Apple's event in September. If this information is officially confirmed, it is sure to bring a new turn in the future of Apple's flagship product management and supply chain.