Apple is poised to overhaul its long-standing annual iPhone cadence, according to South Korea’s ETNews. The publication says the company has told component partners that the base iPhone 18 and entry-level iPhone 18e will not debut alongside higher-end models in September 2026 but will instead arrive in spring 2027. Under the reported plan, the autumn 2026 lineup would consist only of premium devices: an ultra-thin iPhone 18 Air, refreshed iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max handsets, and Apple’s first foldable iPhone. The foldable is expected to target the luxury segment with an estimated price of roughly $2,000 to $2,500. Splitting releases would give Apple two headline events each year, a strategy analysts say could smooth demand by keeping the brand in the spotlight beyond the traditional fourth-quarter sales peak. The move would also mark the first time since the iPhone’s 2007 debut that a standard model is absent from the company’s autumn showcase. Before the shift takes effect, Apple still plans to unveil the iPhone 17 range—comprising the iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max—in September 2025, followed by the budget-focused iPhone 17e in early 2026.