Apple may be considering scrapping the standard iPhone 18 entirely and rebranding the iPhone Air 2 as its new $999 entry point when the more affordable iPhone models launch in spring 2027, a sketchy rumor claims.

The claim comes from the X account "Early Apple," who said Apple is "exploring the idea" of having the Air 2 simply take over the iPhone 18 name and price point rather than launching as a separate device. This would be a major break from how the two devices have been described up to now. Over a year's worth of rumors have consistently portrayed the standard iPhone 18, the iPhone 18e, and the Air 2 as three separate devices set to launch together next spring.

We have covered leaks from the account before, including an alleged iPhone 18 Pro prototype photo back in April, but as we noted at the time, Early Apple is a relatively new account of unknown origin with no established track record, so the claim is best treated as an informed guess. The broader idea isn't entirely new, though. Other observers such as leaker Jon Prosser raised a similar possibility months ago, suggesting Apple's ultra-thin design could eventually become the template for the standard iPhone rather than remaining a separate niche model.

There is a reasonable case for some convergence over time, even if next year is too soon. Apple has a history of debuting design features on pricier models before trickling down to the standard iPhone in later years, and with the iPhone Air 2 expected to close the gap by adding a second rear camera, one of the biggest practical differences between the Air and the standard iPhone would disappear. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone tomorrow.