TL;DR: Apple has split the iPhone 18 launch across 2026 and 2027. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launched in September, and the iPhone Duo followed in October.
The standard iPhone 18 is expected in spring 2027, but Apple hasn’t confirmed a date or price. The best current estimate is a $799 starting price, though a rise to $899 is possible.
- Available now: iPhone 18 Pro from $1,199; Pro Max from $1,299
- Available now: iPhone Duo from $1,999
- Expected spring 2027: Standard iPhone 18, with no confirmed date or price
- Price outlook: Apple could hold the standard model at $799, but higher component costs and recent price rises make an increase possible
The iPhone 18 launch schedule
Apple has changed its usual release pattern. Instead of announcing the standard and Pro iPhones together in September, it launched the premium models first and left the standard iPhone 18 for a later release.
If you’re not prepared to wait that long or potentially pay a $100 price-hike for a phone that isn’t all that dissimailar to the iPhone 17, I’d recommend you check out how much you can save with refurbished iPhones.
If you’re running an older iPhone model (iPhone 13 or older), a refurbished iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 will be a massive upgrade and both come in well under $500.
| Model | Announcement | Preorders | Release | US starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | September 9, 2026 | September 12, 2026 | September 18, 2026 | $1,199 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | September 9, 2026 | September 12, 2026 | September 18, 2026 | $1,299 |
| iPhone Duo | September 9, 2026 | October 16, 2026 | October 23, 2026 | $1,999 |
| Standard iPhone 18 | Not announced | Not announced | Spring 2027 expected | Not announced |
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: launched September 18
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max were announced on September 9, went up for preorder on September 12 and became available on September 18.
The models are selling well so far but are nothing to write home about:
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro series saw YoY sales growth during the first three weeks following its launch. Global sales of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max increased by 3.1% YoY during the three weeks since their September launch, surpassing the sales of the iPhone 17 Pro series during the same period a year ago – CounterPoint
In the US, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299, both with 256GB of storage. That’s a $100 increase over the starting prices of the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro models.
Both phones are available now. For a closer look at the bigger model, see our iPhone 18 Pro Max upgrade guide.
You don’t have to pay $1,000+ for a new phone. Buying refurbished saves you, on average, 40% to 50%.
Which means you skip the inflationary price hikes, side-step the 2026 memory cost crisis, and still get the flagship performance and specs you want.
Recommended Options For 2026iPhone Duo: launched October 23
Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, went on sale on October 23 after preorders opened on October 16.
It starts at $1,999 in the US for 256GB which is frankly mind-blowing. The idea of paying $2000 for a phone hurts my brain. I’d never in a million years consider paying that much for a phone. It’s crazy money when you consider, with refurbished options, you could buy a Pro Max iPhone AND a MacBook for less.
Foldables have ALWAYS been prohibitively expensive which is why they’ve struggled to become mainstream products. As with the Vision Pro headset, I don’t think Apple has made enough of a case for the design.
Add in the fact the camera module sucks compared to the iPhone 18 Pro Max (which is cheaper) and it’s a tough sell.
When is the standard iPhone 18 coming out?
Apple hasn’t announced the standard iPhone 18 yet. Current reports point to a spring 2027 launch, possibly around March or April, but neither month is confirmed.
The standard model may launch alongside other phones, including a possible iPhone 18e and second-generation iPhone Air. Those models and their timing remain unannounced too.
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How much will the standard iPhone 18 cost?
There’s no official price yet. The most useful benchmark is the iPhone 17, which launched in the US at $799 for 256GB.
Some reporting expects Apple to keep the standard iPhone 18 at around $799, possibly absorbing some higher component costs to avoid raising the entry price. That’s plausible, but it’s not guaranteed. Apple has already raised the prices of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max by $100, and memory costs have put pressure on phone makers.
A second possibility is that the standard iPhone 18 starts at $899, matching the current US price of the iPhone 17 after Apple raised it. That would mean the new model costs $100 more than the iPhone 17 did at launch.
For now, $799 is a reasonable estimate, while $899 is a credible higher-price scenario. Apple may also keep the base price steady but charge more for higher storage tiers. We’ll know once Apple announces the phone.
What could affect the price?
Memory costs are one reason prices could rise. TrendForce reported that higher memory prices were pushing up the cost of making iPhones, though Apple could absorb some of that increase to keep retail prices down.
The Pro models offer a clear example of the pressure: their starting prices rose by $100 this year. But that doesn’t prove the standard iPhone 18 will get the same increase. Apple could choose to protect the entry price and make up the difference through storage upgrades or other models in the lineup.
For US buyers, the practical answer is simple: don’t treat $799 or $899 as confirmed until Apple announces the standard iPhone 18.
Should you wait for the standard iPhone 18?
If you want an iPhone now, the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and Duo are already available. If you want a less expensive standard model, waiting until spring 2027 could make sense, but the price and launch date are still unknown.
Personally, I advise everyone to skip the inflation and memory-cost price hikes and go refurbished. You get all the phone you need for a price that’s usually 40% to 50% cheaper than buying new.
This is the main reason why I haven’t bought a “new phone” since 2018. I’m currently running an iPhone 15 Pro Max which I bought earlier this year for just a snip over $550.
Before committing to a new phone, compare the available models in our iPhone 18 coverage and see all iPhone 18 models compared.
Sources
- Apple announces iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Apple announces iPhone Duo
- TrendForce on iPhone component costs and pricing
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