recently, a digital blogger reported that apple plans to start the production line construction and mass production verification of the iphone 18 series in december this year, and officially launch mass production in the early second quarter of 2026, with production ramp-up completed by the early third quarter. cnmo pointed out that although this production schedule is in line with apple's usual production pace in the supply chain, the specific model configuration and launch timing remain unclear.
according to supply chain sources, apple plans to adjust its product release strategy from the iphone 18 series, adopting an alternating release pattern of autumn and spring. high-end models (including pro, pro max, and foldable models) will be prioritized for release in the autumn of 2026, while standard models iphone 18 and iphone 18e may be delayed until the spring of 2027.
in terms of technology, the iphone 18 pro series is expected to be equipped with an a20 chip based on tsmc's 2nm process, with a 15% performance improvement and a 30% power consumption reduction compared to the previous generation. furthermore, the series will adopt a new packaging process (wmcm) for the first time, integrating ram directly onto the chip wafer to improve heat dissipation and save internal space. the imaging system will also be innovated, with the main camera potentially supporting manual aperture adjustment.
regarding production layout, apple is actively diversifying its supply chain. indian factories will take over part of the production of the iphone 18 series, with the goal of increasing the domestic production share in the us market to nearly 100% by the end of 2026.
from the perspective of industry chain trends, it can be seen that the mass production preparation of the iphone 18 series is entering a critical stage. if everything goes according to plan, the new iphone is expected to be released in september 2026, coinciding with the launch of the first foldable iphone.
