Apple is gearing up to initiate trial production of the iPhone 18 shortly after the Chinese New Year, with small-scale manufacturing set to commence once factories resume normal operations in late February. Production lines for the iPhone 18 Pro models are already established, suggesting that the design for these models is finalized. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to maintain a similar design to its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro, featuring a triple-lens rear camera system.
This aligns with Apple’s rumored strategy to stagger the iPhone launch cycle. The iPhone 18 Pro is anticipated to launch in September 2026 alongside Apple’s inaugural foldable iPhone, while the standard iPhone 18 is set for a spring 2027 release. The iPhone 18 may include a simplified Camera Control button and an upgrade to 12GB RAM, utilizing TSMC’s 2nm architecture for the A20 chip.
The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to introduce Apple’s A20 Pro chip, potentially featuring under-screen Face ID technology, a variable aperture lens, and a new three-layer stacked image sensor from Samsung. Additionally, Apple is likely to unveil its next-generation custom-made C2 modem with this device.
