--- title: "Apple Postpones Base iPhone 18 to 2027: New A20 Chip, Larger Battery, and Potential Price Hike to $999" description: "According to Digital Chat Station, Apple may delay the release of the base iPhone 18 to 2027: the model will keep the screens and cameras of the iPhone 17, but will feature an A20 chip built on a 2nm process and a larger battery, with its price potentially rising to $999." date: 2026-11-04T15:28:13.733Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/apple-postpones-base-iphone-18-to-2027 tags: [apple, iphone-18, tsmc, a20-chip, smartphone] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Apple Postpones Base iPhone 18 to 2027: New A20 Chip, Larger Battery, and Potential Price Hike to $999 ![New Apple iPhone smartphones in various colors arranged in a fan shape on a light background](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/04/apple-otlozhila-vyidus-bazovogo-iphone-18-do-2027-goda/apple-otlozhila-vyidus-bazovogo-iphone-18-do-2027-goda-1.webp) ## Key Points - According to Digital Chat Station, Apple may delay the release of the base iPhone 18 to 2027, launching it alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2. - The model will retain the screens, cameras, and authentication systems of the iPhone 17, but will receive an A20 chip built on TSMC's 2nm process and an enlarged battery. - The main surprise of the leak is a potential price hike: from a baseline price of $899, the iPhone 18 could cost $999. - Apple declined to comment on the delay, and new CEO John Ternus sidestepped a direct answer; analysts still expect the model to become the brand's best-selling smartphone. 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. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Обновленное железо и цена около 1000 долларов: почему Apple отложила выпуск iPhone 18](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/onovlene-zalizo-ta-tsina-pid-1000-dolariv-1793799479.html) - Primary source: RBC-Ukraine citing Digital Chat Station. It indicates a postponement to 2027, a 2nm A20 chip, a possible $999 price tag, Apple's refusal to comment, and a statement by new CEO John Ternus. There is no official confirmation from Apple. ## FAQ ### When is the base iPhone 18 expected to be released according to the leak? According to Digital Chat Station, Apple may postpone its release until 2027, launching the model alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2. ### What will change in the base iPhone 18 compared to the iPhone 17? The screens, cameras, and authentication systems will be carried over from the iPhone 17, but the model will get a new A20 chip on TSMC's 2nm process and a larger battery. ### Will the base iPhone 18 become more expensive? According to the leak, a price hike is possible: if the updated $899 price is used as a baseline, the iPhone 18 could cost $999. The exact base price is currently unknown. ### Did Apple confirm the delay? No, Apple declined to comment on the reasons for the delay, and new CEO John Ternus sidestepped a direct answer, stating that the company is passionate about its current developments.