Apple is shifting its production focus for 2026 to three high-end iPhone models, including its first-ever foldable iPhone, while delaying the launch of the standard iPhone 18 to the first half of 2027, Nikkei Asia reported Friday, citing four sources familiar with the matter.
The US tech giant is expected to unveil the foldable iPhone alongside two non-folding flagship models featuring upgraded cameras and larger displays in the second half of 2026. The move is part of a revised marketing strategy and a response to supply chain constraints.
Apple aims to optimize resource allocation and improve profitability amid rising costs for memory chips and other materials. The delay of the standard iPhone 18 also helps reduce production risks associated with the complex manufacturing process required for the foldable device.
“Supply chain smoothness is one of the key challenges for this year, and the marketing strategy change also played a part in the decision,” an executive from an iPhone supplier told Nikkei Asia.
