Apple iPhone roadmap for 2026 is out on the street; 2 launch dates, 5 phones
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shed his light on which iPhones Apple will release in 2026. And that yields an extraordinary list, with a totally new strategy. We're happy to go over them with you.
Apple keeps its new products secret better than, say, Samsung or Google - press photos of unannounced iPhones rarely leak. Still, future models are often easy to predict. Those who listen to suppliers quickly know what Apple is up to - something analyst Ming-Chi Kuo excels at.
According to him, Apple will be announcing the iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max before the end of this year. That much was already clear. The only difference from previous years is that the Plus version has been replaced by the thin Air model
Apple traditionally announces all new iPhones in the fall. For next year, 2026, Apple will switch to a biennial launch. Thus, in the first half of 2026, the new iPhone 17e is expected. This succeeds the iPhone 16e that was released February of 2025 as the logical successor to the iPhone SE (2022).
That the simple iPhone E gets a successor after only one year is remarkable. Until now, there have been several years between such models.
iPhone Fold
In the fall of 2026, the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the iPhone 18 Air will then be unveiled. A fourth model will follow as a kind of One More Thing; the iPhone 18 Pro Fold. This is the first foldable iPhone released by Apple. Apple is said to be aiming for a virtually invisible fold and an extra-high quality hinge. The device's screen would come out somewhere between 7.8 and 8 inches.
| When | Expected models |
|---|---|
| 2H 2025 | iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max |
| 1H 2026 | iPhone 17e |
| 2H 2026 | iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18 Fold |
| 1H 2027 | iPhone 18, iPhone 18e |
| 2H 2027 | iPhone 19 Air, iPhone 19 Pro, iPhone 19 Pro Max, iPhone 19 Fold |
Observant readers will notice the absence of one model from the above list; the iPhone 18. Apple is reportedly looking to push the launch of the entry-level model to the first half of 2027. It will then be joined by the iPhone 18e. The iPhone 19 series will again follow in the fall.
More competitive with other companies
Basically, Apple has already started two launch dates this year. What is new is that from 2027, Apple will also announce the entry-level iPhone early in the year. By grouping these two simpler models together, it can spread its sales a bit more throughout the year. It also allows Apple to compete more effectively with Samsung and Chinese brands that also typically release new models at the beginning of year.
