Apple to launch larger iPhone 18 Air and foldable sequel in 2027

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Apple will supposedly switch to a two-pronged iPhone release strategy due to intense competition, especially in China. The move will give more media attention to newer models, like the upcoming iPhone Air and foldable iPhone.

In a note on Monday, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also said that Apple will launch its second-gen foldable and the iPhone 18 Air with a bigger display in H2 2027.

iPhone 18 Air and second-gen foldable iPhone coming in 2027

A report from the weekend indicated Apple may shake up the iPhone launch cycle in 2026. Instead of launching the regular, Pro, Air, and Fold models simultaneously, the company will purportedly move the regular iPhone 18’s launch to spring 2027. This way, instead of six, it would only have to release five iPhones.

Echoing the report, TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo provides more insight into this. He says that later this year, Apple will launch the iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Air/Slim, and iPhone 17. Then, in spring 2026, the company will release the iPhone 17e. Post this, the company will split the iPhone launch between the Pro/Fold/Air and non-Pro models.

• 2H26: iPhone Foldable, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Slim
• 1H27: iPhone 18, iPhone 18e
• 2H27: iPhone Foldable 2 (already kicked off), iPhone 19 Pro Max, iPhone 19 Pro, iPhone 19 Slim (with a larger display vs. 18 Slim)

Kuo’s prediction also suggests the foldable iPhone will follow a yearly release cycle, with the second-gen model debuting a year after the first.

Intense competition leading Apple to tweak iPhone’s release timeline

Kuo believes Apple will adopt this split iPhone launch strategy in response to rising competition, especially in China. Most major Android manufacturers host at least two major launch events each year — one in the first half and another in the second — to unveil their flagship devices.

With new iPhones only launching later in the year, this gives flagship Android phones a sales cycle advantage. By tweaking the release timeframe, Apple will negate this advantage to a great extent.

Firstly, the move will give the company’s expensive and premium phones more media spotlight, boosting sales. Secondly, the budget-oriented models won’t be overshadowed by their more premium siblings this way.