Pegatron says the base iPhone 18 won't launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup
An Apple supplier has lent additional credibility to ongoing rumors suggesting Apple will release the iPhone 18 base model separately in early 2027. Image credit: Pegatron It seems increasingly likely that Apple will not release the core iPhone 18 at its expected September 2026 iPhone launch. Instead, the company may launch it in early 2027. This isn't the first time we've heard this story. The…
A key iPhone manufacturer has reportedly confirmed that Apple will launch the iPhone 18 base model separately from the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in early 2027, contradicting the company's initial plan to release the core device alongside the premium models in September 2026. Pegatron, one of Apple's key suppliers, announced this at its August 12 earnings conference, citing the prioritization of components for the higher-margin Pro models as the reason for the delay.
The split launch could potentially help Apple manage the increasing cost of components, such as semiconductors, RAM, and SSDs, which are currently in short supply and expected to remain so until 2028 or even longer. However, the company has not ruled out the possibility of increasing costs on customers. Experts and analysts believe the component shortage could significantly impact companies like Apple, prompting them to prioritize AI and allocate more resources towards AI servers and memory storage components.
While Apple typically releases its budget-friendly iPhone models in the following spring, the split release of the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro could be a strategic move to address market demands and component availability.
Written by urgent.news from AppleInsider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
