Table of Contents
Should I Wait for Apple’s Foldable iPhone or Buy the iPhone 17e When It Launches?
Apple has sold phones the same way for 18 years. But that might change soon. The company could skip making a regular iPhone 18 next year. Instead, they want to try something new.
What Apple Plans to Do
Apple might split their phone releases into two parts:
First Half of 2026:
- iPhone 17e (cheaper model)
Second Half of 2026:
- iPhone 18 Air
- iPhone 18 Pro
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- New foldable iPhone
This means no basic iPhone 18 in 2026. But don’t worry. Apple will bring back the regular model in 2027. You could get both an iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e in early 2027.
Why Apple Wants to Change
Phone sales are getting slower. Even Apple feels this pinch. They sold 3 billion iPhones total, but recent sales dropped.
Apple thinks this new plan will help them in three ways:
- Keep attention all year – New phones every few months means people talk about Apple more often
- Boost sales numbers – Spreading releases might increase total sales
- Test new ideas – See how well the thin iPhone 17 Air sells before making big changes
What This Means for You
Good news
- More choices throughout the year
- Cheaper options come first (iPhone 17e)
- Premium models get more development time
Possible problems
- Six different iPhones per year could confuse buyers
- Harder to know which phone fits your needs
- Upgrade timing becomes tricky
The Big Risk Apple Takes
This plan depends on one thing: people must like the iPhone 17 Air. This thin model will test if buyers want something different from the standard iPhone.
If the Air model fails, Apple might go back to their old way. The basic iPhone has sold well every year since 2007. Skipping it is a big gamble.
Should You Wait or Buy Now?
Think about your current phone. Can it last until 2027? If yes, waiting might give you better options. If no, the iPhone 17e in early 2026 could be perfect.
Remember: Apple changes plans sometimes. These reports come from Korea, not Apple directly. The company might stick with their usual schedule after all.
What Experts Think
Some tech watchers worry about too many phone choices. Others think Apple needs fresh ideas to compete with Samsung and Google.
The foldable iPhone excites many people. Apple usually waits to perfect new tech before releasing it. If they launch a folding phone in 2026, it should work better than early models from other companies.
This strategy shift shows Apple feels pressure to innovate. Smartphone sales peaked a few years ago. Now companies must work harder to get people excited about upgrades.