Apple's September event introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone Duo, but skipped the base iPhone 18. This follows reports from May 2025 predicting a schedule shift. The base model is now expected in early 2027, alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2.

The change aims to avoid overcrowding the fall launch and address memory shortage concerns. Apple's strategy now splits major releases between fall and spring cycles, a move that surprised many but aligns with earlier forecasts.