Apple supplier Pegatron confirmed that the standard iPhone 18 will not launch this year, as revealed during its Q2 2026 earnings call. The company indicated a shift in its customer’s smartphone shipment schedule, aligning with reports that Apple will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable "iPhone Ultra" this September. The base model, along with a lower‑end iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2, is now slated for release in March 2027.

This split‑launch strategy departs from the tradition of releasing iPhone 11–17 alongside their Pro and Pro Max counterparts in September. Rumors from supply‑chain analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo, former *The Information* reporter Wayne Ma, and supplier Largan Precision had hinted at the change earlier this year.

In total, six new iPhone models are scheduled by the end of March 2027: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Ultra, iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2.

Apple’s decision underscores a new launch cadence that may influence consumer upgrade decisions across the coming months.