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The new iPhone lineup launched, and the base iPhone 18 is not included
On September 9, 2026, Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo, though the base model iPhone 18 is notably not in the lineup.
On September 9, 2026, Apple introduced three new names into the iPhone lineup — iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo.
Feel like something is missing? That’s right, the base model iPhone 18 wasn’t announced, leaving fans of the brand to speculate whether it’s going to be available at all.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the new devices and address the rumors surrounding the base model iPhone 18.
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Will there be a base model iPhone 18?
According to multiple reports, Apple will be announcing the base model iPhone 18 in early 2027, together with the iPhone 18e.
We’ve become accustomed to Apple launching the base model together with the Pro and Pro Max in the fall event every year. Not having the base model there this year does throw off the usual dynamic a bit. Here’s what it means for you if you’re looking to get the latest iPhone yourself:
- Affordability: The cheapest iPhone 18 Pro will cost $1,199. This means that, for the first time ever, there are no phones under $1,000 announced in the fall launch event. If you want a cheaper option, you’ll have to wait until next year to find out what the base model iPhone 18 will have to offer.
- Lack of clarity: In the iPhone 17 lineup, the base model offered great value for money when compared to the Pro and Pro Max phones. However, that’s not always the case, and the base model iPhone 18 may not stack up as well against its bigger brothers. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait quite a while just to find out which phone in the lineup is the best fit for you.
- The new normal: While we can only speculate, it’s entirely possible that Apple simply couldn’t launch one more phone right now due to the mass chip shortages in the industry. Therefore, the company prioritizes Pro and Pro Max models, as they’ve had bigger demand than the base model in recent years.
iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo — everything you need to know
In the September 9 event, Apple launched three new phones: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Duo, which is Apple’s first foldable phone ever. Let’s take a look at what each of them have to offer:
| iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone Duo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales start | September 18, 2026 | September 18, 2026 | October 23, 2026 |
| Size | 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm | 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm | Unfolded: 117.8 x 164.6 x 5.2 mm Folded: 117.8 x 84.1 x 11.3 mm |
| Screen size | 6.3” | 6.9” | 7.6” |
| Display | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz |
| Chipset | Apple a20 Pro | Apple a20 Pro | Apple a20 Pro |
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x GHz high performance + 4x GHz) | Hexa-core (2x GHz high performance + 4x GHz) | Hexa-core (2x GHz high performance + 4x GHz) |
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Memory | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB |
| Camera | 48 MP wide + 48 MP ultrawide + 18 MP selfie camera + 48 MP telephoto | 48 MP wide + 48 MP ultrawide + 18 MP selfie camera + 48 MP telephoto | 48 MP wide + 48 MP ultrawide + 18 MP selfie camera |
| Video | Up to 4K at up to 120 FPS or 1080p at up to 240 FPS | Up to 4K at up to 120 FPS or 1080p at up to 240 FPS | Up to 4K at up to 120 FPS or 1080p at up to 240 FPS |
| Battery | 4,056 mAh for nano SIM models* 4,288 mAh for eSIM-only models* | 5,391 mAh for nano SIM models* 5,567 mAh for eSIM-only models* | Not announced |
| Starting price | $1199 | $1299 | Not announced yet |
* The battery capacity numbers are officially unconfirmed, Apple states that the 18 Pro battery will hold up to 24 hours under typical use, while the 18 Pro Max will last 30 hours.
As you can see, all models come with identical internals, including the CPU, GPU, and chipset. The main difference between the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max is the screen size and battery capacity.
Is the iPhone 18 eSIM-only?
Just like with the iPhone 17 lineup, phones within the iPhone 18 range will be eSIM-only in Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the U.S., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This means that you won’t be able to use physical SIMs for devices purchased in these countries
While further expansion of eSIM-only phones was speculated, it seems like models in most countries outside of the countries above will offer both eSIM and nano SIM compatibility.
Removing the physical SIM trays allows Apple to offer bigger batteries, as well as other common advantages of using an eSIM, such as travel flexibility and better security.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
