The new iPhone launch season is upon us and although the iPhone 17e begun the 2026 iPhone roadmap back in March, all eyes are now set on September, where the Cupertino brand is going to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro series and the coveted iPhone Fold. However, it seems like fans will still have a lot to look forward to as we enter 2027.
Apple Could Launch as Many as Nine iPhones by 2027
A new Bloomberg report via Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter has revealed that there are currently as many as nine Apple iPhones in the pipeline for launch in 2026 and into 2027. The first of the many is the highly anticipated iPhone Fold, a.k.a the iPhone Ultra, which will mark the brand's foray into the foldable space.
Sporting a passport-like design, it is expected to bring an iPad-like form-factor with a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.49-inch outer panel. Apple also plans to use liquid metal for the iPhone Fold hinge and could be powered by the Apple A20 Pro chipset. We have already seen real-life iPhone Fold case design leaks and it is more than expected to launch in September 2026.
Next, there are the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which are expected to bring the same design and nearly the same internal specs as the iPhone 17 series. However, they are said to get new colourways in the form of Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Grey and Silver. Apple is reportedly planning to shrink the Dynamic Island by 25% and ship the phones with the latest C2 modem and could be powered by the A20 Pro chipset. Also, while Tim Cook has confirmed price hikes are coming, reports also say that the iPhone 18 Pro could launch at the same price as the iPhone 17 Pro.
Moving into 2027, the first half of the next year is set to see three key launches - the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2. While the iPhone 18 delay reports have repeatedly placed its launch in Q1 2026, we recently learned that Apple is eyeing a 2027 launch for the iPhone Air 2 as well. It is said to retain the design of the current generation iPhone Air but bring dual rear cameras to the table and improved battery life.
As for the standard iPhone, fans have been disappointed with recent reports of iPhone 18 downgrades amidst the ongoing RAM crisis. It is said to bring a toned-down experience compared to the iPhone 17 and could stick to the same Apple A19 chipset or bring a binned-down A20 experience. The display is also said to take a hit, with Apple going back to 60 Hz for the base iPhone and also a lower-res and low-quality M12+ panel.
As for the iPhone 18e, it is expected to be similar to the iPhone 17e, but not a whole lot is known about it at the moment. Lastly, in September 2027, Apple is planning a major design and innovation breakthrough with the 20th Anniversary iPhones. They are said to directly succeed the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro and could be called the iPhone 20 Pro and iPhone 20 Pro Max, meaning the brand intends to skip the iPhone 19 generation entirely.
The biggest upgrade will arrive in the form of the 20th anniversary iPhone displays, which are expected to use micro-curved OLED, becoming the first generation iPhones to incorporate a bezel-less design. They are also said to use a magnesium-silver (MgAg) alloy in the cathode layer, which is expected to cause image distortion and brightness loss in the areas where the OLED curves.
However, Apple is also planning a two-stage micro-curved OLED rollout for the 20th anniversary iPhones and as per this rollout strategy, in 2028, the Cupertino brand will reportedly transition to indium zinc oxide (IZO) as the cathode material, which is expected to address both issues with the first-gen models. Both phones could be joined by the iPhone Ultra 2.
Apart from that, Gurman has also outlined other new Apple products, including new Apple Watches, MacBooks, iPads and Apple Home products. All of these are part of the John Ternus CEO transition as Tim Cook has stepped down as Apple CEO and is part of a broader product roadmap, bringing a redefined identity for Apple.
