Apple may start iPhone 18 production soon, expecting a big demand: report

oh – Divyanshi Sharma

Updated: Thursday, October 15, 2026, 4:06 p.m [IST]

When Apple’s recent iPhone launch event finally concluded, there was just one question on everyone’s mind – when will we see the iPhone 18. This time, Apple flipped the script and launched only the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models along with the iPhone Duo. There was no vanilla iPhone 18 to be seen and we now have an idea about the phone. A new leak suggests the phone will enter production as soon as November. The company expects strong demand for the upcoming mobile phone, which is expected a few months after the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Here’s everything we know so far.

iPhone 18 to enter production in November?

Tipster Fixed Focus Digital, in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo, says the standard iPhone 18 will enter production in November. The tipster also says that Apple’s inventory levels indicate that the company is preparing substantial stock for the upcoming handset.

This could mean that Apple expects a strong initial demand for the iPhone 18. However, the company has yet to confirm its production plans or launch timeline.

According to the tipster, the standard iPhone 18 could launch in March 2027 alongside the iPhone 18e. If this timeline holds, Apple would spread its iPhone launches over different parts of the year rather than introducing the entire lineup at a single fall event.

Talking about what we can expect from the standard iPhone 18, it may be equipped with Apple’s next-generation A20 chipset. The upcoming processor is also expected to support the iPhone 18e, with both models tipped to include 9GB of RAM to support on-device artificial intelligence features.

In addition to this, the phone may have a 6.3-inch display and a dual camera on the rear. However, keep in mind that Apple has not confirmed any of these specifications. So it’s best to take this information with a pinch of salt.

Apple is changing its iPhone launch strategy

Apple has traditionally unveiled its standard and Pro iPhone models together during its September launch event. This year, the company took a different approach, launching the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max before the standard model.

The iPhone 18 Pro starts at Rs 1,64,900 for the 256GB storage variant, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,79,900 for the same storage configuration. Both phones feature the A20 Pro chipset and a triple camera setup on the rear, including a 48-megapixel Fusion primary camera with variable aperture.

The standard iPhone 18 is expected to sit below the Pro models in Apple’s lineup, offering a different set of features at a lower price. However, details about its Indian pricing and availability remain unknown.

Apple has not yet confirmed when the standard iPhone 18 will launch. For now, there is talk of a debut in March 2027. We’ll likely hear more about the phone in terms of its launch date, so keep watching this space for more updates.