iPhone 18 Secrets Revealed: What We Know Before the iPhone 17 Launch!

It’s now official, Apple has announced it will unveil its iPhone 17 range on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Each fall, Apple introduces a new annual series of smartphones, although the development cycle extends beyond just the year of release: the models for the next iPhone 18 range are already under preparation in Cupertino and at Apple’s subcontractor facilities. Some key plans for next year’s lineup have already been outlined—here they are!

Four Models in 2026, Two Delayed to 2027?

Apple is expected to release four new models in its iPhone 18 lineup in September 2026. However, these might not be the models everyone anticipates. According to various sources, the launch of the standard iPhone 18 might be postponed for several months and not appear until early 2027, potentially alongside an iPhone 18e, which would replace the iPhone 17e as the entry-level model.

This strategic shift would provide two benefits for Apple: it would distribute production load more evenly throughout the year and boost sales of its higher-end models upon their release. Hence, in September 2026, Apple plans to introduce the iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max, as well as a brand-new foldable model—the first ever produced by Apple.

The First Foldable iPhone

The highlight of next year will undoubtedly be Apple’s very first foldable iPhone! Rumored to feature an external display of about 5.5 inches and an internal display of approximately 7.8 inches with a 4/3 aspect ratio, the internal screen is said to be designed by Samsung Display, with the central fold being nearly invisible. The hinge technology is expected to be highly advanced—there’s even talk of LiquidMetal. This model could be quite expensive: prices might exceed €2,000, but this is purely speculative at this point.

Due to its thinness, this foldable model reportedly will not include Face ID sensors; instead, Touch ID would return via a side button on the phone. It would feature a front camera on both the external and internal screens and two rear cameras. Like this year’s iPhone 17 Air, it would lack a SIM card tray, relying solely on eSIM technology.

Design of Other Models

The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are expected to retain a design similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, with no major changes on the back of these models, which already underwent significant redesigns in 2025. However, the front of these devices might see some innovations with a narrower Dynamic Island, as Apple aims to integrate some (but possibly not all, depending on rumors) sensors under the OLED panel. There are whispers about a potential shift from a central to a left-sided position on the screen, possibly due to the foldable iPhone 18, where a central placement wouldn’t be feasible because of the hinge.

The iPhone 18 Air is not expected to see any significant changes just a year after the debut of its slimmer chassis. Details about the design of the standard iPhone 18 are still under wraps, and no major updates are anticipated there either. The iPhone 18e, however, might drop the notch in favor of a Dynamic Island and adopt a screen with reduced bezels, following the introduction of these features on the iPhone 17e expected next spring.

New Chips

As with every new iteration, the upcoming iPhone range will be equipped with the latest generation of chips. The A20 and A20 Pro chips, to be the first crafted with 2-nanometer technology by TSMC, are expected to greatly enhance energy efficiency, alongside the traditional boost in power and battery life. Apple may also opt for more efficient RAM, though it’s unclear if capacities will increase.

All models are likely to switch to an internally designed Apple 5G modem. While the iPhone 18e, 18, and 18 Air might use a revised version of the C1 modem supporting 5G mmWave, the Pro models could benefit from a new Apple C2 modem, poised to match the latest Qualcomm models in performance. These changes should significantly improve energy efficiency and battery life.

Camera Improvements

As usual, Apple plans to enhance the cameras across the iPhone 18 lineup. Details are scarce for now. Apple recently announced a partnership with Samsung, which might involve manufacturing new camera sensors in the United States, but more information will be needed to confirm these developments.

A related rumor concerns the camera control—a tactile button dedicated to camera functions introduced with the iPhone 16 last year. Apple might simplify this feature on the iPhone 18, retaining the pressure-sensitive sensor for focus and exposure lock while removing the tactile navigation capability, which has proven cumbersome.

What Comes Next?

Unless Apple deviates from its usual schedule, the iPhone 19 range (Air, Pro/Max, and foldable) will be introduced in September 2027, with a potential delay for the entry-level iPhone 19 and a possible iPhone 19e until early 2028. These future models are still too far off to speculate on their specific features beyond the expected improvements in chips, cameras, etc. However, the iPhone 19 Air might feature a larger screen.

Additionally, numerous rumors suggest Apple might commemorate the iPhone’s twentieth anniversary with an exceptionally high-end model featuring a curved screen on all four sides, possibly eliminating the Dynamic Island entirely (including the webcam) beneath the OLED panel, and a chassis that could be almost entirely glass. This model would likely be positioned above the iPhone 19 Pro.