Apple’s iPhone 18 Launch: A Major Shake-Up with Foldable and Low-Cost Models

Munish Gupta

Published on November 6, 2025

Two new models are expected to join Apple’s iPhone lineup; given the company’s propensity to sell its products in the millions while putting quality first, some compromises will have to be made in 2026. The base iPhone 18 is slated to be phased out as per the most recent study; therefore, consumers should get ready for a greater price to upgrade next year. The tech behemoth is, though, replacing two new models with a rather large-scale release.

Five iPhone models in total are expected to be added to Apple’s line in 2026, with the iPhone 17e leading the way. Apple is reportedly contemplating yet another change in its release approach for 2026 as the iPhone 17 Pro essentially supplants the Plus version late this year. ETNews claims that the base model of the iPhone 18 will be dropped from the series; therefore, you could conclude that we will only see three rather than the four flagship devices Apple has always announced over the years.

It should be remembered, though, that Apple’s foldable iPhone will also feature in the lineup, and those who want this device to be their daily driver will have to pay a significant price; it is projected to retail between $2,000 and $2,500. The iPhone 17e, which will be the direct successor to the iPhone 16e and have premium features at a somewhat below premium price point, is scheduled to be unveiled before Apple proceeds with its launch in late 2026.

Still, it’s unknown if it will offer the same worth as the basic iPhone 18, but it’ll be a hard faceoff to Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. At the same time, Apple strives to prevent a cluttered smartphone lineup since more options might generate substantial sales for the California-based firm, but might also cause one or two models to become less well-known. Apple could not be distinguished from Samsung if it offered an excessive number of iPhone models in a single calendar year.