Regular as clockwork, Apple's supply chain is performing checks on the iPhone 18 family, with the iPhone 18 Pro now in small-batch test production ahead of the usual fall release.
Apple is a habitual company that has finely honed its manufacturing capabilities and supply chain processes over many years. If a report is to be believed, it is still keeping to its usual schedule.
In a Monday post to Weibo, Instant Digital claims the iPhone 18 Pro series of devices has entered production testing alongside the iPhone 18. The account also specifies that production lines for the iPhone 18 Pro line have also started up.
The account adds a little more detail about the models, namely that the materials used in production haven't changed much, and that the general specifications are similar to the previous models, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro.
Right on time
Instant Digital has a relatively mixed track record for Apple leaks on Weibo, with occasionally accurate claims accompanied by speculation not supported by other reports.
That said, their Weibo post is probably right, primarily because it's fairly easily information to speculate about, or guess. Long-time observers of Apple can come up with an educated guess along the same lines.
When it comes to Apple's production scheduling, the iPhone lines typically enter the manufacturing testing process early in the year. For the iPhone 17, Engineering Validation Testing (EVT) took place in late April, which would be one of the earliest non-prototype stages before mass production can take place.
This is not full-blown mass production, as that usually happens in the late summer, as assemblers fill up their factories with new staff for the busy period in the supply chain's annual cycle. It can, however, be a period where component suppliers are preparing parts to be sent to Apple's assembly partners in the coming months.
Though the iPhone 18 Pro is certainly expected in the fall of 2026, alongside the iPhone Fold, the standard iPhone 18 has rumored to be arriving at a much later time. A split of the iPhone schedule, putting the iPhone 18 launch in the spring, will help ease production pressures from the usually hectic fall.
As for the product details, this is information that is easily guessed too.
Apple tends to make a big design change then reuses it for a few years with minor alterations before eventually redesigning the appearance again. Since the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro had big overhauls in late 2025, it is doubtful that Apple will make another big change to the designs one year later.
