Highlights
- Apple will begin iPhone 18 trial production in February 2026 with Pro models launching in September 2026 and standard/affordable variants in spring 2027.
- The iPhone 18 Pro lineup will retain the iPhone 17 design language, add a simplified Camera Control button, A20/A20 Pro chips and advanced Samsung-supplied camera sensors.
- Due to global LPDDR shortages, Samsung is expected to provide 60–70% of iPhone 18 memory chips.
Apple is said to be gearing up to start trial production of the iPhone 18 shortly after the Chinese New Year. The move signals an early step in Apple’s preparation for its next-generation iPhone lineup, which is expected to follow a staggered launch timeline.
Apple’s Next iPhone Series Launch Plans
The leak, shared by Weibo-based tipster Fixed Focus Digital, claims that limited production runs of the iPhone 18 will begin once manufacturing facilities resume normal operations after the Lunar New Year break that usually concludes in late February. This early trial phase is typically used to validate hardware designs and fine-tune manufacturing processes ahead of mass production.
According to the same source, production lines for the iPhone 18 Pro variants have already been established, suggesting that Apple has finalised the core hardware design for the Pro models. The leaker also notes that external design changes are likely to be modest, countering expectations of a major visual refresh.
This aligns with earlier reports stating that the iPhone 18 Pro models will largely retain the design language of the iPhone 17 Pro series. The triple rear camera setup is expected to remain housed within the newer camera plateau design, indicating visual continuity across generations.
The report further supports rumours that Apple is moving toward a split iPhone launch cycle. Under this strategy, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to debut in September 2026, alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone. The standard iPhone 18, along with the more affordable iPhone 18e, is then tipped to arrive in spring 2027.
Fixed Focus Digital suggests that the iPhone 18 Pro models will not see major exterior changes, particularly on the rear panel. Apple is reportedly sticking with a familiar camera layout and overall aesthetic, reinforcing the idea of an incremental update rather than a full redesign.
iPhone 18 Lineup – What We Know So Far?
Caption – iPhone 17 Series in the picture for reference. (Image credit – Apple)
In terms of hardware upgrades, Apple may introduce a simplified Camera Control button across the iPhone 18 lineup. While the capacitive sensor could be removed to reduce costs, pressure-sensitive functionality is expected to remain intact. The standard iPhone 18 is also rumoured to receive a bump to 12GB of RAM and could be powered by the A20 chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process, although additional details remain scarce for now.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models are expected to debut Apple’s A20 Pro chipset and may introduce several advanced camera and biometric technologies. These include potential under-screen Face ID, a variable aperture lens, and a new three-layer stacked image sensor supplied by Samsung. Apple is also reportedly planning to introduce its next-generation, in-house C2 modem with these Pro models.
However, expectations around under-display technology and the removal of the Dynamic Island appear to be tempered by the latest report. The timeline for these changes is now said to be uncertain. Realistically, Apple may choose to reserve something truly “groundbreaking” for its 20th anniversary iPhone, which is expected to launch in 2027. As a result, the 2026 iPhone lineup could end up being a relatively minor refresh over the redesigned iPhone 17 series. Apple is therefore likely to continue using the current pill-shaped cutout for at least another generation while refining its under-display camera technology.
It is also worth noting that the iPhone 18 series is still early in its development cycle. With mass production still some distance away, supply chain details could become clearer over time, and Apple’s plans may still evolve.
For now, the leak points toward another evolutionary update rather than a dramatic design overhaul.
Samsung Expected to Supply Majority of Memory for iPhone 18 Series
Alongside production details, a separate report indicates that Samsung is set to become Apple’s primary memory supplier for the iPhone 18 lineup. The shift is reportedly driven by an ongoing global memory shortage.
Caption – (Image credit – Samsung Electronics)
According to a South Korean report, Apple is placing a large order for memory chips from Samsung as its current suppliers, SK Hynix and Micron, are increasingly prioritising high-bandwidth memory (HBM) production for data centres over the low-power LPDDR memory used in smartphones.
HBM demand has surged due to the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, particularly for accelerators from companies such as NVIDIA. These AI-focused firms are also willing to pay a premium to secure HBM supplies, making it more lucrative for memory manufacturers than smartphone-grade memory.
As a result, memory makers are redirecting capacity away from LPDDR memory and toward server-grade HBM, creating supply pressure for smartphone brands, including Apple. This situation leaves Samsung as the most reliable option.
The report claims that Samsung could account for around 60 to 70 percent of Apple’s total memory chip orders for the iPhone 18 series. With Apple shipping approximately 230 million iPhones annually and requiring both stable pricing and large-scale supply, Samsung is currently the only supplier capable of meeting those demands while competitors focus on higher-margin AI memory products.
FAQs
Q1. When will Apple begin trial production of the iPhone 18?
Answer. Trial production is expected to start in late February 2026, shortly after the Lunar New Year break, to validate designs and manufacturing processes before mass production.
Q2. What is Apple’s launch strategy for the iPhone 18 lineup?
Answer. Apple is planning a split launch cycle: the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will debut in September 2026 alongside the foldable iPhone, while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are tipped to arrive in spring 2027.
Q3. Who will supply most of the memory chips for the iPhone 18 series?
Answer. Samsung is expected to supply around 60–70% of the memory chips, as rivals SK Hynix and Micron are prioritising high-bandwidth memory for AI data centres over smartphone-grade LPDDR memory.