Apple to Ditch Base iPhone Model in 2026, Focusing on Ultra-Premium Lineup
Cupertino, CA – June 28, 2025 – Apple is poised to dramatically reshape its iPhone strategy, signaling a shift towards an exclusively ultra-premium autumn product line starting in 2026. Multiple authoritative sources report that the tech giant will discontinue the presentation of a base iPhone model alongside its flagship devices next fall iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 pro Max, and the highly anticipated iPhone 18 Fold – Apple’s first foray into the folding smartphone market iPhone 18 base and a new iPhone 18e in the spring, approximately six months after the premium autumn lineup. This strategic move is expected to result in higher starting prices for iPhones released in the fall, with the iPhone 18 Air projected to cost around $999 or slightly less [[source]].