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Apple skips the base iPhone 18 at its fall launch event

2026-09-09 | original
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Why This Matters

Apple has broken from its long-standing fall cadence by launching only premium iPhones — the 18 Pro, Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone Duo — while pushing the base iPhone 18 to next spring. It simultaneously raised prices $100 across the Pro line and even on existing iPhone 17 and 16 models, a sign that memory and chip shortages are squeezing margins. For consumers, the cheapest path into a new iPhone just got more expensive and further away.

Key Takeaways
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Apple is taking the unusual step of skipping the base iPhone 18 this fall. At its “surprise and shine” event today, the company revealed the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, alongside a new foldable iPhone Duo. But the base iPhone 18 was a no-show. Rumors had suggested Apple would only launch premium iPhones this fall, with the base model slipping to next spring.

Instead of announcing the iPhone 18 today, Apple has put the prices of its existing iPhone 17 models up by $100. Even the older iPhone 16 that’s still on sale has gone up by $100 compared to last week, back to its original $799 starting price.

Memory and chip shortages likely contributed to the base iPhone 18 delay, putting pressure on pricing and forcing Apple to prioritize higher-priced iPhone models that have larger profit margins. Both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are also $100 more this year than the previous models.

A new iPhone Air and more affordable iPhone 18E are rumored to launch in the first quarter of next year, around the same time the base iPhone 18 is expected to debut.

Update, September 9th: Article updated to note that Apple has raised the prices of its older iPhones.

Explore topics: apple iphone 18 pro iphone 18 iphone duo chip shortage
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