NewsTechAppleApple skips the base iPhone 18 at its fall launch eventApple is focusing on higher-priced iPhone models this fall.Apple is focusing on higher-priced iPhone models this fall.by Tom WarrenSep 9, 2026, 6:19 PM UTCShareGiftThe successor to the iPhone 17 isn’t arriving this fall. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergePart OfAll the news from Apple’s ‘Surprise and shine’ eventsee all updates Tom Warren is a senior correspondent and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.Apple is taking the unusual step of skipping the base iPhone 18 this fall. At its “surprise and shine” event today, the company revealed the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, alongside a new foldable iPhone Duo. But the base iPhone 18 was a no-show.
Rumors had suggested Apple would only launch premium iPhones this fall, with the base model slipping to next spring.Memory and chip shortages likely contributed to the delay, putting pressure on pricing and forcing Apple to prioritize higher-priced iPhone models that have larger profit margins. Both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are $100 more this year than the previous models.A new iPhone Air and more affordable iPhone 18E are rumored to launch in the first quarter of next year, around the same time the base iPhone 18 is expected to debut.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Tom WarrenAppleiPhoneNewsTechApple brought ceramic back for the Series 12Cameron FaulknerA minute agoApple completely revamped iOS 27’s controls and apps for the iPhone DuoTerrence O’Brien9 minutes agoThe Apple Watch Ultra 4 is ready for the new SiriAndrew Liszewski38 minutes agoMost PopulariPhone 18 live blog: On the ground at Apple’s biggest eventApple announces the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro MaxLG TVs caught spying even when offline or on standbyThe iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldableApple says ‘Fold’ and competitors ask ‘How wide?’Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad
