Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR Starting in 2026, Apple is reportedly planning to separate phone launches across fall and the following spring.
This two-part annual release schedule could predictably cause a reactionary split in Android flagship launches, with more premium models launching in the fall, and budget and value options launching in the coming spring.
Ever since the iPhone 4S was launched in 2011, Apple has typically introduced its main phone lineup in September or October. Android smartphone manufacturers previously prioritized a flagship launch at events like MWC. However, over the years, it seemed that the entire industry had been inching closer to releasing the best new Android phones closer to Apple’s latest iPhone. This year, it’s the closest Android flagship SoCs have launched next to Apple’s SoC, and consequently, new Android flagships have arrived closer to the iPhone 17 series. Just as Android OEMs were about to settle into this rhythm, Apple seems to be on its way to run at a different pace.
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iPhone 18 series could follow a new two-season launch schedule
Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority
Bloomberg reports that Apple is about to shake up its iPhone launch strategy in a significant way, both by releasing more phones and spreading out the release. Instead of one major launch event in September and a smaller, occasional “iPhone e series” launch in the coming February or March, Apple is about to split its releases more evenly between these two periods from 2026 onwards.
In fall 2026 (presumably in September), Apple is said to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable phone, presumably called the iPhone Fold. Curiously missing would be the base iPhone 18 and a potential refresh of the iPhone Air. These missing phones are then expected to be launched alongside the iPhone 18e six months later.
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