iPhone 18 Base Variant Delayed To 2027, Manufacturer Confirms

Apple's iPhone 18 lineup will launch in two phases this cycle, with the Pro models arriving as scheduled in September but the standard variant delayed to early 2027. Taiwanese manufacturer Pegatron revealed this revision during its Q2 2026 earnings call, citing ongoing shortages of memory and other chip components as the reason for the split launch timeline.

The company confirmed earlier rumors about the staggered rollout for the iPhone 18 series. Pegatron attributed the unusual schedule to two supply chain issues - semiconductor manufacturing bottlenecks and structural shortages of key components. Earlier reports had suggested memory shortages were hindering TSMC's production of system-on-chip components for upcoming iPhones, leading to a buildup of nearly $1 billion worth of chips still awaiting packaging.

Apple is reportedly prioritizing higher-margin Pro models, allowing it to preserve its usual September launch window for its most expensive devices while delaying the standard iPhone 18. Market analysts noted that the broader smartphone market is likely to stay under pressure due to these shortages, with shipments expected to decline this year.

Pegatron emphasized that the issue stems from constrained supply rather than decreased consumer demand and projected that memory supply and demand will not return to balance until 2028. This schedule marks a departure from Apple's tradition of launching both Pro and standard iPhone models simultaneously, with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max set to debut in September, followed by the standard iPhone 18 in early 2027.