Apple's iPhone lineup is expected to undergo a radical shakeup in the next two years. Here's what to expect by 2027, including the long-awaited iPhone Fold.
Apple has a fairly packed iPhone schedule at the moment, with four mainline releases in the fall and occasional updates in the spring. While the current roster is for five devices, that won't necessarily be the case in the near future.
In a breakdown of rumored expectations for the coming years, The Information believes that Apple could increase the iPhone count to seven releases per year by 2027.
This includes an expansion of the lineup to include more than the existing base and Pro iPhone range. With expectations of the iPhone Fold and other models on the horizon, Apple will have a lot more options to provide to consumers in a very short time in the future.
iPhone 17e - Spring 2026
Following the main fall 2025 releases, the next release from Apple should in theory be the iPhone 17e in the spring.
iPhone 16e
Multiple sources have suggested the iPhone 17e will boast a 6.1-inch display, making it somewhat smaller than the iPhone 17 and its 6.3-inch display. It'll most likely feature a 60Hz refresh rate as well.
As a minor update, it should use the A19 chip, up from the A18 in the iPhone 16, but again may lose one GPU core versus the mainline iPhone 17 range.
The report claims that it will have a glass back, adding wireless charging to the model, as well as use the C1X, Apple's in-house modem.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max - Fall 2026
The more regular of the outlined models, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max is expected in the fall as usual.
This time, the 2026 model's rumors include the adidtion of a variable aperture camera instead of a fixed version. It can help create real depth-of-field effects instead of being faked like the current computational photography-based system for iPhone Portraits.
The model may also see a change to the front-facing camera, with rumors of Apple testing a "stitched" or "spliced" micro-transparent glass for it. The change could mean the end of the Dynamic Island, as the camera system goes under the display for the first time.
The A20 in the iPhone 18 Pro may also provide Apple with more flexibility. By using a "Wafer-level Multi-Chip Module" packaging technique, Apple could split the CPU and GPU dies, allowing it to mix-and-match components and make a variety of chips.
iPhone Fold - Fall 2026
The Fall Pro launches could be joined by a third device, in the form of the iPhone Fold. A long-rumored product, it could become a reality as part of the late 2026 product slate.
iPhone Fold render - Image Credit: AppleInsider
It should have two displays, with a 7.8-inch folding inner screen and a 5.5-inch fixed outer screen. Despite using new technology for Apple, the screens should still be Retina-ready with pixel densities of 460 pixels per inch.
Supporting the display to eliminate cracking or creasing is a rumored Liquidmetal hinge.
iPhone 18 - Spring 2027
Normally a September staple, rumors have said Apple will be updating its schedule so that the standard model will arrive later than the rest of the group. Instead of a September launch, the standard iPhone 18 will instead be introduced in the first half of 2027.
Apple is also expected to be manufacturing the model at scale in India before China, a big change from the usual China-centric approach Apple usually takes.
iPhone 18e - Spring 2027
The report believes that Apple will continue to use the "e" suffix to its budget model, with the result being the iPhone 18e in Spring. This would reflect a new product cadence.
Apple again will be focusing its efforts to make the iPhone 18e in India first.
iPhone Air 2 - Spring 2027
Also expected in the Spring of 2027, the second generation of the iPhone Air will apparently get a redesign, based on the supposed slow uptake of the original. It was previously expected in late 2026, but was claimed to be bumped down the schedule.
iPhone Air
Current early speculation on the model is a possible addition of a second camera to the back plateau. The 6.5-inch display and thin design will largely remain unchanged, rumors think.
iPhone 20 - Fall 2027
Marking the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, the iPhone 20 is expected to skip past the iPhone 19 name and just go for 20 instead.
The change for this model is an all-screen design with curved edges on all sides. The design may also incorporate an all-glass design, removing the external metal sections and using an all-new chassis.
