A huge year of change might be coming for the iPhone

Since the release of the iPhone 4s in 2011, Apple has followed a fall release schedule for the iPhone. It has become a yearly tradition for the company, and I think it’s fair to say that consumers have gotten very used to it. However, next year, Apple’s usual fall iPhone launch could look quite different.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that in 2026, Apple plans to stagger the release of its new iPhone models, launching three in the fall and then three more in the spring of 2027.

The iPhone models expected to debut in the fall of 2026 will be part of Apple’s premium lineup, including the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and notably, the first foldable iPhone, according to Gurman. Then, in spring 2027, Apple is reportedly planning to release the base model iPhone 18, the iPhone 18e, and the iPhone Air 2.

Aside from adding the foldable iPhone to the lineup, which has been rumored for some time, the biggest change here will be the separation in release timings for the base model iPhone and the iPhone Pro — these have been launched together since the introduction of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro in fall 2019.

It’s also worth noting that Apple is taking its time with the iPhone Air 2. Gurman reports that the Air 2 hasn’t been delayed, as some reports suggested, but rather Apple has always been planning to release it in spring 2027 to allow more time for upgrades, such as potentially a 2nm chipset to improve battery life and the addition of an ultra-wide camera on the back.

Gurman reports that there are multiple reasons why Apple might be staggering its release schedule. One benefit is that it provides the company with a more consistent revenue stream throughout the year, rather than concentrating the bulk of it at the end of the year. Additionally, it makes Apple’s marketing efforts easier by allowing them to focus on marketing their premium devices and budget devices at different times of the year without overlap. It also gives Apple an opportunity to counter the new phone releases from other companies throughout the year, such as Samsung, which typically releases new phones early in the year and in the summer.

Leadership changes might also shake up Apple in 2026

Apple CEO Tim Cook might retire next year

It’s not just the iPhone release schedule changing in 2026, but also potentially Apple’s top leadership role. The Financial Times recently reported that Apple is intensifying its “succession planning efforts,” as it gets ready for Tim Cook to step down as CEO “as soon as next year.”

As for who might succeed Cook, according to the Financial Times, John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, is seen as the leading candidate, but Apple hasn’t made any final decisions yet.

It’s also not entirely clear when any announcement about this could be made, as sources who spoke to the Financial Times said that “although preparations have intensified, the timing of any announcement could change.” So, whether Cook steps down as CEO next year remains uncertain, but it seems the Cupertino-based company is preparing for it whenever the day arrives. The sources also note that the move to transition to a new CEO isn’t related to the company’s performance, as Apple is expected to have another very strong end-of-year sales period.

Cook has been the CEO of Apple since August 2011, when Steve Jobs stepped down from the role. Since Cook took over, Apple’s market valuation has increased from $350 billion in 2011 to $4.5 trillion as of 2025. Cook has overseen all of Apple’s major releases over the past decade and a half, including the Apple Watch, the introduction of Apple’s M-series MacBooks, and all the iterations of iPhones that have followed, like the iPhone X, and most recently, the iPhone 17 series and the iPhone Air.

Personally, I believe Apple has intentionally leaked this news about its plans to transition the role of CEO to gauge the market’s reaction and to start preparing people for the inevitable, so that when it does happen, it won’t be that surprising. While Cook has been a highly successful CEO for the company, he is 65, and retirement is likely on his mind. As for the potential change to the iPhone launch schedule, I think it makes a lot of sense, especially since the foldable iPhone is expected to make its debut, and it will make Apple’s iPhone release schedule more spread out and less overwhelming, similar to Samsung’s.