Apple is planning a big shake-up for its iPhone lineup in 2027. Building on this year’s tweaks, the company will split its release schedule with a spring refresh followed by a major fall overhaul to mark the 20th anniversary of the iPhone. Here’s what the rumors suggest for both seasons.
Spring 2027: Iterative Upgrades and New Models
The base iPhone 18 will get the spring spotlight—an unusual move for Apple, marking the first time its entry-tier model launches in the spring. Expected enhancements include more RAM, improved thermal management, and the newer Apple C2 modem. It’ll run on the A20 chip and is likely to start at $899, the post-price increase level of the current iPhone 17. Rumors also point to a possible design refresh to align the look more closely with the Pro models.
Alongside the iPhone 18, Apple will introduce the iPhone 18e. This will mostly be a chip-level bump—from the A19 to A20—and probably share many components with the standard iPhone 18. It’s unclear how much feature overlap there will be.
The wild card could be the iPhone Air 2. After lukewarm response to the first Air model, Apple is said to be redesigning it to include an ultrawide camera—a change that delayed its launch. The Air 2 may also get a smaller Dynamic Island (similar to the 18 Pro), a larger battery (reportedly up to 3,500 mAh, roughly 10% up from its predecessor), and upgrade from the C1X modem to the newer C2.
Fall 2027: Anniversary Flagships
Apple’s fall 2027 lineup is expected to be more dramatic. The iPhone 20 Pro will reportedly see a full redesign. If the rumors hold, bezels will be much thinner, the flat-edge style introduced in the iPhone 12 era will be dropped, and there’ll be a more glass-heavy build. The Dynamic Island is likely to shrink further, with a switch to a hole-punch selfie cam and Face ID that sits under the display.
Following that, the iPhone Duo 2 will succeed the recently released iPhone Duo. While specifics are scarce, it’s expected to include camera upgrades, the next-gen A21 Pro chip, and possibly enhancements to Face ID and other premium features.
On pricing: With the base iPhone 18 seemingly locked at $899, Pro models may still command higher prices—especially the anniversary Pro editions. Component upgrades like glass-heavy construction, under-display facial recognition, and new chipsets will likely contribute to those premium costs.
What this means: For those considering skipping the Pro models now, spring may be a tempting window if you’re looking for incremental upgrades. But if you want something more futuristic and symbolic—the 20th anniversary designs in fall might be worth the wait.
