Apple has shifted its iPhone 18 lineup strategy by skipping the base model at its September 9, 2026 “Surprise and Shine” event, instead launching only the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Duo. Supply constraints on chips and memory prompted the company to prioritize higher-margin premium devices, pushing the standard iPhone 18—expected with a 2nm A20 chip, improved RAM, smaller Dynamic Island, and C2 modem—to spring 2027 alongside the iPhone 18e and Air 2. This split-launch approach breaks Apple’s long-standing fall cadence for the full lineup, with traders now focusing on confirmation of the March–April window and any last-minute production updates that could alter the timeline.