As soon as upon a time, Apple used to make important modifications to the iPhone each couple of years. A brand new mannequin (iPhone 4, 5, 6, and many others) would launch with an overhauled look, adopted by an S variant that boosted efficiency and smoothed out any imperfections.
That’s not the case. Primarily as a result of iPhone’s maturity, iterative annual upgrades have grow to be the norm. In any case, there’s solely a lot it will probably enhance 12 months over 12 months. And regardless of what you’ll have examine this 12 months’s telephones, the brand new lineup is seeking to be extra of the identical, even with the introduction of a brand new Air mannequin.
That’s why in the event you’re planning to get a brand new iPhone, you might need to look forward to subsequent 12 months’s iPhone 18 collection. In contrast to the iPhone 17, 2026’s lineup is ready to deliver a number of the greatest design and performance upgrades in years, which may make the iPhone 17 really feel decidedly ho-hum.
One thing within the Air
In September, Apple will reportedly launch the iPhone 17 Air—an ultra-slim handset with an entire new kind issue. Thrilling, proper? Perhaps not. First-generation gadgets are sometimes riddled with flaws, and a 12 months later, the iPhone 18 Air will virtually definitely tackle any points with a refined and polished design.
Past that, there appear to be few compelling causes to go for an iPhone 17 Air. The glossy system will doubtless have a mediocre battery life, a single rear digital camera, fewer audio system, and different compromises for a premium price ticket. With most individuals popping their telephone right into a case anyway, will a super-slim iPhone actually be value it?
Now that the EU has confirmed that Apple is permitted to launch portless smartphones, the iPhone 18 Air may doubtlessly make the most of that. The top end result could be a lighter, extremely skinny iPhone that, not like the 17 Air, might justify the shortcomings and expense.
Above the fold
We’ve been listening to a few folding iPhone for years, however it lastly looks as if it’s coming. However not this 12 months. In 2026, Apple is anticipated to debut its first foldable smartphone (enter the iPhone 6 Plus joke right here), rivaling Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold and altering the iPhone as we all know it.
The 5.5-inch system is rumored to pack a 7.8-inch inside show, mimicking an iPad mini when opened. It might simply be essentially the most dramatic and thrilling iPhone change because the iPhone X in 2017, and plenty of Apple followers are going to need to leap on board as early adopters.
Lens aptitude
Even in the event you’re skipping the iPhone 17 Air and its single digital camera, the iPhone 17 Professional isn’t seeking to ship a lot in the best way of significant digital camera upgrades, apart from a 24MP front-facing sensor and a 48MP telephoto lens. Nonetheless, a extra substantial digital camera increase may arrive subsequent 12 months. Not less than one iPhone 18 mannequin (presumably the Professional Max) will boast a variable aperture lens—a perk lengthy restricted to high-end skilled cameras.
If true, iPhone customers will get to mechanically management how a lot gentle reaches the sensor for the primary time. This might elevate portrait pictures by enhancing the utilized depth of subject impact, in addition to minimizing overexposure. Most smartphone customers don’t depend on a devoted DSLR or mirrorless digital camera for capturing their on a regular basis moments. Porting a variable aperture lens to the iPhone may dramatically improve the photo-taking expertise.
A reduce above
Apple launched the Dynamic Island with the iPhone 14 Professional, and it’s rapidly grow to be one of many handset’s greatest options, with fast entry to timers, scores, background duties, and so forth. However when it’s not in use, it’s nonetheless considerably ugly—and that’s not anticipated to vary this 12 months.
Subsequent 12 months, nevertheless, Apple will reportedly change to under-display Face ID sensors, which can doubtless shrink the Dynamic Island noticeably. The conflicting experiences make it onerous to foretell whether or not the iPhone 18 Professional will function a smaller Dynamic Island or a hole-punch design, however it’s secure to imagine it’ll look extra futuristic and produce the iPhone a step nearer to the flawless, glass slab imaginative and prescient coming in 2030.
Chip shift
For a lot of informal customers, Apple’s annual chip upgrades aren’t all that vital. iPhones from years in the past nonetheless run fluidly and carry out in a lag-free method, and a barely quicker processor gained’t actually impression the each day expertise meaningfully. Nonetheless, there could also be a much bigger increase with the iPhone 18 fashions.
In 2026, Apple is anticipated to unveil the A20, switching from a 3nm to a 2nm manufacturing course of. In consequence, the iPhone 18 Professional fashions may very well be considerably extra succesful and power-efficient. However that’s not all—the iPhone 18 lineup can also be anticipated to undertake the second technology of Apple’s in-house 5G modem. In contrast to the C1 predecessor included with the iPhone 16e, the C2 chip may help mmWave connectivity and produce different enhancements to the desk.
With the iPhone 17 line doubtless sticking to Qualcomm’s hungrier modem and 3nm A19 processor, it’s secure to imagine the iPhone 18 could have a superior battery life.
Iteration now, innovation later
In simply 12 months, Apple’s iPhone 18 collection will doubtless supply a number of the most distinct modifications in ages. We’re rumored to be getting an all-new folding kind issue that caters to multitaskers, together with a doubtlessly improved Air mannequin in addition to different important enhancements.
In the meantime, what’s going to the iPhone 17 deliver? A skinny physique? A tweaked rear digital camera bump and a value hike? We predict you’ll be higher off shopping for a reduced iPhone 16 and ready until 2026 to get one thing actually new.
