The iPhone 18 release date is no longer this September. Apple supplier Pegatron signalled on its second-quarter earnings call that one of its customers — Apple, in practice — is changing its usual phone shipping schedule, with the Pro series shipping this fall and the standard model held back until the first quarter of 2027.
Taiwan’s Economic Daily News covered the call, and The Verge picked up the report. The delay traces to the memory and chip shortages that have already pushed Apple to raise prices: advanced packaging for the new chips is waiting on memory that AI servers are absorbing first, and analysts on the call estimated the market will ship 130 million fewer phones this year. Pegatron executives said phone demand has not disappeared — supply just has to catch up, and the company sees memory supply easing only around 2028.
When is the iPhone 18 release date?
Apple’s rumoured split launch is now effectively confirmed. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the foldable iPhone Ultra land in September, while the base iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 follow around March 2027. MacRumors counts six new models by the end of March — the first time a standard iPhone has not launched alongside its Pro siblings since the iPhone 11 generation.
What it means if you’re shopping in the UAE
There is no new affordable iPhone this September. If you were holding out for the base iPhone 18, the wait runs into next year — and the Pro models land with Apple’s confirmed price increases, which tbreak’s June analysis put above AED 4,700 for the iPhone 18 Pro. The iPhone 17 stays the mainstream option, from AED 3,399 on the Apple UAE store, assuming its own rumoured price rise does not land first.
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Why is the base iPhone 18 delayed?
Memory and chip shortages. Advanced packaging for the new processors is waiting on memory that AI servers are absorbing first, and Apple is prioritising higher-margin Pro models while parts are scarce. Pegatron expects memory supply to ease only around 2028.
How much will the iPhone 18 cost?
Apple has not announced pricing. CEO Tim Cook has confirmed price increases are unavoidable amid the memory shortage; The Wall Street Journal estimated the iPhone 18 Pro could start at $1,299, which tbreak’s June analysis put above AED 4,700 in the UAE. Base iPhone 18 pricing is unconfirmed.
What is the iPhone Ultra?
Apple’s first foldable iPhone, expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max this September. It is part of the same split-launch schedule that pushes the standard iPhone 18 to Q1 2027.
