iPhone 18 delayed to 2027 — chip shortage and rising prices are to blame

The base iPhone 18 will not launch this year and is now expected to hit the market in the first quarter of 2027. The news comes from Pegatron, one of Apple's key manufacturing partners, which confirmed the timeline in its earnings report for the second quarter of 2026.

According to the report, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be unveiled next month, while the standard iPhone 18 is slated for a release between January and March 2027. This aligns with earlier rumors that suggested the base model would arrive in March.

The delay is attributed to a shortage of processors and memory chips, which has already driven up smartphone prices globally. The source also points to difficulties in the semiconductor production process as a contributing factor.

If the reports are accurate, this would mark a significant shift in Apple's release strategy. Since the iPhone 11 generation, the company has consistently launched base models alongside their Pro counterparts, a pattern that continued through the iPhone 17 series.

Rumors suggest that Apple's September event will feature the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the company's first foldable device, reportedly named iPhone Ultra. The base iPhone 18 would then follow in March 2027, breaking a long-standing tradition of simultaneous releases.

This staggered approach, if confirmed, could have broader implications for the smartphone market, as Apple's release schedule often sets the pace for the industry. The move also highlights ongoing supply chain pressures that have affected tech manufacturers worldwide, with memory and processor shortages proving particularly challenging to resolve.