On this week’s episode of The MacRumors Present, we discuss by way of how the iPhone lineup is rumored to alter after the discharge of the iPhone 17 lineup later this 12 months, taking a look at what to anticipate in 2026, 2027, and past.
Apple’s not too long ago rumored iPhone roadmap past the iPhone 17 reveals a major strategic shift in each launch cadence and product positioning. With rising competitors, an increasing lineup, and evolving manufacturing logistics—significantly the transfer away from China towards manufacturing in India—Apple is exploring a staggered launch schedule designed to keep away from advertising fatigue and preserve focus throughout the six major iPhone fashions which can be anticipated to be on sale by the top of subsequent 12 months.
In spring 2026, Apple might introduce the “iPhone 17e” as a refresh of the lower-cost mannequin launched this 12 months. The key wave of change begins in fall 2026, with the launch of the “iPhone 18 Air,” “iPhone 18 Professional,” and “iPhone 18 Professional Max.” The Professional fashions are anticipated to introduce under-display Face ID for the primary time, decreasing the necessity for a visual sensor array and leaving solely a small digital camera gap on the top-left nook of the show. It stays unclear how this alteration will have an effect on the presence or operate of the Dynamic Island.
Digital camera upgrades are additionally anticipated, together with a variable aperture 48MP major lens and a probable new Samsung sensor for the ultra-wide digital camera. Different enhancements embrace Apple’s in-house “C2” modem and an “A20” chip made with TSMC’s upcoming 2nm course of.
Fall 2026 can also be anticipated to mark the debut of Apple’s first foldable iPhone. That includes a book-style design, the machine will supply a 5.7-inch outer show and a 7.8-inch inside show. Apple reportedly goals to beat opponents with a superior hinge mechanism crafted from titanium and chrome steel, and a show with a virtually invisible crease. In contrast to different flagship iPhones, the foldable mannequin will use Contact ID embedded within the energy button as an alternative of Face ID, probably as a consequence of inner area constraints. It should additionally purportedly embrace simply two rear cameras, a high-density battery, and an impressively slim profile: 4.5mm when open, and 9–9.5mm when closed.
In spring 2027, the bottom “iPhone 18” and “iPhone 18e” fashions will observe. In fall 2027, Apple is anticipated to introduce the “iPhone 19 Air” with a bigger show, exceeding the 6.6 inches of the earlier two Air fashions. The “iPhone 19 Professional” and “iPhone 19 Professional Max”—presumably branded to mark the twentieth anniversary of the iPhone—will function a “daring” redesign, incorporating extra glass and, for the primary time, an under-display entrance digital camera. The consequence will probably be a real edge-to-edge display screen with out notches or cutouts, fulfilling a long-standing imaginative and prescient for a seamless all-display iPhone.
The second-generation foldable iPhone can also be scheduled for fall 2027, constructing on the primary mannequin with additional refinements and enhanced sturdiness. Whereas plans for spring 2028 are much less concrete, it is probably that the usual “iPhone 19” and probably “iPhone 19e” fashions will arrive then, persevering with the brand new spring/fall rollout rhythm.
Wanting even additional forward, Apple’s ambitions might transcend smartphones altogether. Based on remarks from Apple govt Eddy Cue this week, the iPhone may very well be out of date inside a decade, changed by AI-powered wearables and ambient computing experiences.
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If you have not already listened to the earlier episode of The MacRumors Present, catch as much as hear our dialogue concerning the up to date Apple Watch lineup coming later this 12 months.
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