iPhone 18 trial production set to begin in February, paving way for spring 2027 launch

Apple’s iPhone 17
According to Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, Apple is set to kick off trial production for the iPhone 18 shortly after the Chinese New Year holiday. This means small-scale test runs on production lines will begin once operations resume normally after the Lunar New Year break, typically wrapping up in late February.
The leaker further notes that assembly lines for the iPhone 18 Pro variants are already in place, signaling that the Pro models’ hardware design is now finalized. Additionally, anticipated changes to the exterior design are likely to be more modest than some rumors have suggested.
Tim Hardwick for MacRumors:
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That lines up with reports that the iPhone 18 Pro models will feature the same general design as the iPhone 17 Pro models, with the triple-lens rear camera system residing within the new camera plateau.
The report also fits with Apple’s rumored shift to a split iPhone launch cycle. Under the reported strategy, the iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to debut in September 2026 alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone, while the standard iPhone 18 will follow later with the iPhone 18e for a spring 2027 launch.
The standard iPhone 18 could be also upgraded to 12GB RAM in 2026, while adopting TSMC’s 2nm architecture for the A20 chip…

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MacDailyNews Take: A rsplit iPhone launch cycle — with premium/Pro models in the fall and standard/budget models in the spring — would benefit Apple’s smartphone sales in these key ways:
• Smoother revenue distribution — Spreads out iPhone revenue more evenly across the year, reducing heavy reliance on the fall/holiday quarter and evening out seasonal dips.
• Reduced self-cannibalization — Separating premium (higher-margin) and standard models prevents them from competing directly at launch, further boosting overall Pro sales while allowing budget options to target mainstream buyers later.
• Year-round hype and upgrades — Two major release events maintain sustained consumer interest and media attention, encouraging more frequent upgrades as new models feel fresher regardless of purchase timing.
• Better competition — Spring launches for standard models align with rivals’ early-year releases, capturing sales in slower periods.
• Supply chain relief — Staggering production eases strain on manufacturers.

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