A leaker with no established track record claims Apple will drop the expected iPhone 18 and rebrand the iPhone Air 2 as the iPhone 18 for a $999 spring 2027 launch. EarlyAppleLeaks suggests the iPhone Air 2, predicted to feature two cameras, would take the iPhone 18's place and name. Previous reports indicated the iPhone 18 would closely resemble the iPhone 18e in performance and hardware.

While the prediction of lineup consolidation isn't unreasonable — as base iPhone, iPhone Air, and iPhone "e" models converge in design — the 2027 timeline is implausible. Apple would simplify its lineup from five models (two Pro, one base, one Air, one foldable) to fewer variants, potentially making the base model significantly thinner than Pro models but impacting battery life. However, spring 2027 models are already far along in development, making a rebrand unlikely.

The September 9, 2026 event will reveal whether EarlyAppleLeaks is accurate about a smaller Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 range. Verification will require waiting until at least spring 2027.