According to tech columnist Digital Chat Station, as cited by RBC-Ukraine, Apple may postpone the release of the base iPhone 18 until 2027. According to the leak, the model will not appear in the usual autumn cycle, but will debut as part of an updated lineup alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2. Thus, the brand's most mass-market and affordable smartphone will receive not just a cosmetic update, but a revised release strategy, which in itself has become a noticeable signal for the market.
What Will Remain and What Will Change in the Base Model
According to the insider, the base iPhone 18 will retain the screens, cameras, and authentication systems of the previous generation—meaning the hardware foundation of the iPhone 17. At the same time, the gadget will receive two key improvements: a new processor and an enlarged battery. This combination indicates that Apple is betting not on a visual or camera update, but on an increase in battery life and performance that the user feels in everyday use.
The A20 Chip and TSMC's 2nm Process
A significant performance boost, according to the leak, will be provided by the A20 chip manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process. Notably, processors based on the 2nm process have already debuted in the higher-end iPhone 18 Pro versions and the foldable iPhone Duo. This means the base model is effectively catching up with the flagship lineup in terms of semiconductor manufacturing level, bringing its specifications closer to the brand's more expensive devices.
The Main Surprise: A Potential Price Increase
The greatest resonance in the leak was caused by information about a potential increase in the gadget's price. It is not yet clear what price the increase will be calculated from: the initial $799 for the iPhone 17 or the updated $899. If the latter is taken as a baseline, the base iPhone 18 could cost $999. For Apple's most affordable smartphone, this would be a noticeable shift that could affect the perception of the model in the price segment.
Apple's Reaction and Analysts' Forecasts
Apple declined to comment on the reasons for the model's release delay. During a final earnings call with analysts, new CEO John Ternus sidestepped a direct answer about the future gadget, emphasizing that the company is "passionate about its current developments." Despite the schedule shift, analysts expect that upon release, the base iPhone 18 will become the brand's best-selling smartphone, which underscores that the delay is likely not due to a drop in interest in the model, but rather a restructuring of production and pricing decisions.
