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The standard model of the iPhone 18 won't be released until spring, but production is expected to begin in just a few weeks. According to a new leak, Apple is planning a large production run. This would give Apple an unusually long time to build up inventory.
With the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo, Apple only unveiled part of the new generation in September. The standard iPhone 18 model, along with the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2, is expected to follow in spring 2027, though no specific date has been announced.
A new piece of information has emerged regarding the start of production. According to a post by the Weibo account Fixed Focus Digital, manufacturing of the iPhone 18 is scheduled to begin at the end of November, with the account describing the volume as quite large.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Production of the standard iPhone 18 model is scheduled to begin at the end of November.
- Apple is reportedly planning a large production run, but the article does not specify a concrete number.
- The iPhone 18 is not expected to be unveiled until spring 2027.
- The iPhone 17 was the best-selling smartphone in the world during the first and second quarters of 2026.
Three months' lead time instead of two
A production start at the end of November would give Apple roughly three months to build up inventory by spring, assuming the device is released in March as expected. The gap was shorter for the iPhone 18 Pro: according to reports from the supply chain, mass production ramped up in July, and the model was unveiled in September.
| Model | Production start according to reports | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | July 2026 | September 2026 |
| iPhone 18 | End of November 2026 | Spring 2027 (expected) |
The standard model is expected to feature a smaller Dynamic Island and the A20 chip. The design is not expected to change much.
Why Apple might focus on large production volumes
The base model has been the top seller for months. According to Counterpoint Research, the iPhone 17 was the best-selling smartphone in the world in the first quarter and also in the second quarter, accounting for six percent of global sales, ahead of the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro.
Added to this is the gap in the product range. Without a successor in the fall, the iPhone 17 will have to last another six months. This aligns with an earlier report that Apple had extended iPhone 17 production and expanded its capacity.
How reliable is the leak?
Fixed Focus Digital is a Weibo account that regularly shares supply chain information. The current post doesn't mention a quantity or supplier, and no document is included. The report about the extended iPhone 17 production in May also originated from this account. While the two reports are consistent, this doesn't constitute independent confirmation.
The key details of the timeline, however, are based on multiple sources. Bloomberg has been reporting since April that the standard model won't arrive until spring, and Apple did not actually show it in September.
What the early start could mean for the market launch
I consider the production start date plausible because it fits the known timeline and doesn't suggest a new date. The size specification, however, is the less certain part, as long as there's no specific number behind it. I expect that the iPhone 18, with a three-month lead time, will be available in large quantities right from the start, and that there won't be long delivery times in the first few weeks.
Are you waiting for the iPhone 18 in the spring, or are you going for the iPhone 17, which will have been on the market for a year and a half by then? Let us know your decision in the comments.
