Apple pushed back the start of iPhone 18 sales to 2027 due to memory shortage - Nikkei

American Apple has decided to move away from the long-standing tradition of simultaneous release of the entire line of iPhone: in 2026 will be released three of the most expensive models of its smartphones, and the start of sales of the basic version of the iPhone 18 postponed to the first half of 2027, reports Nikkei Asia, citing four sources. According to the interlocutors of the publication, this year the company intends to focus on the release of its first foldable smartphone, as well as two classic models with improved camera performance and larger displays.

The rescheduling is designed to maximize profits from sales of premium devices amid soaring prices for memory chips and other components. In addition, it is critical for Apple to minimize the risk of production disruptions during the launch of the first foldable iPhone, which requires complex manufacturing processes and new materials, the sources said.

Apple has at least five new iPhone models in development: the redesigned iPhone Air, the thinnest model in the company's history; a new base version of the iPhone 18; and three premium models. The timeline for the iPhone Air is not yet clear, but it is not expected to start shipping in 2026, according to Nikkei.

Despite its status as one of its largest customers, Apple is facing supply constraints as some of its existing contractors have shifted resources to serve the beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence boom - Nvidia, Google and Amazon. Apple warned investors on Jan. 29 that the iPhone supply disruption was hurting its performance in the current quarter.

In early January, MacRumors wrote, citing "numerous rumors" that Apple may change the iPhone release schedule in 2026 and split the release into two phases. For more than a decade, the company has unveiled and launched all major iPhone models in September. Under the updated strategy, Apple would prioritize premium devices in the fall, delaying the release of cheaper models until next year, the publication said.

Apple shares are down slightly (-0.23%) at the premarket on January 30. The day before, the company reported for the pre-holiday quarter, which ended on December 30. Apple's revenue and earnings results beat expectations. However, the company warned of a threat to margins due to rising memory chip prices.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor