📱 Apple might replace the iPhone 18 with the upcoming iPhone Air 2
📆 The phones have been widely rumored to ship together next spring
🍎 However, Apple is said to be considering retiring its old iPhone design entirely
⬆️ The new iPhone Air 2 could have enough upgrades to justify the change
🌸 Apple is rumored to release the regular iPhone 18 in spring 2027
While tomorrow’s Apple event will showcase the iPhone Fold and iPhone 18 Pro, many are still waiting for the new baseline iPhone 18 to upgrade to. We expect that phone to arrive next spring, according to the latest rumors, but it sounds like it could look a lot more different than we were anticipating.
The iPhone Air 2, Apple’s upcoming sequel to its thinnest phone to date, could replace the regular iPhone 18 entirely. Previous rumors suggested that the two phones would ship together in the spring of 2027, but a new leak suggests that Apple could retire its current base iPhone model for one that’s much snazzier to look at.
Early Apple Leaks on X shared the speculative detail, saying that the company is considering the shift internally. If it happens, the iPhone Air 2 would simply become the iPhone 18, while the presumably existing iPhone 18 would fade away. Apple’s iPhone 17 is a lot thicker and less elegant than the iPhone Air, so Apple could be making the change to usher in a new era of prettier designs for the company’s products.
That could also lead to a price hike. Early Apple says that the iPhone 18 would cost the same as the current iPhone Air at $999, which is $200 more than what the iPhone 17 costs. Given that Apple is expected to increase prices for its Pro models this year, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the iPhone 18 also cost more, whether it gets a new design or not.
The iPhone Air 2, for all intents and purposes, is expected to close the gap between it and the rumored iPhone 18. It’s rumored to ship with a second ultra-wide camera on the back, as well as a bigger battery for better endurance. It’ll also come with a new chip, although it’s unclear if it’ll be the rumored A20 or A20 Pro. Nevertheless, it’ll feel less like a differentiated, special edition iPhone than the Air does by a good amount with these changes, which could make this rumored change make a lot of sense.
This leak is a bit sketchy, however. Early Apple doesn’t have an incredible track record when it comes to Apple leaks, and every rumor we’ve heard thus far suggests the iPhone 18 and Air 2 are two separate products that’ll arrive next year. We’ll be following this rumor closely over the next few months to see whether there’s any validity to it, so stay tuned.
Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.