As soon as upon a time, Apple used to make important modifications to the iPhone each two 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 because of the iPhone’s maturity, iterative annual upgrades have turn into the norm. In any case, there’s solely a lot it may possibly enhance yr over yr. And regardless of what you could have examine this yr’s telephones, the brand new lineup is trying 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 could need to await subsequent yr’s iPhone 18 sequence. Not like the iPhone 17, 2026’s lineup is ready to deliver a few 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 a complete new kind issue. Thrilling, proper? Possibly not. First-generation gadgets are sometimes riddled with flaws, and a yr later, the iPhone 18 Air will virtually actually handle 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 smooth system will probably 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 probably reap the benefits of that. The top outcome can be a lighter, extremely skinny iPhone that, not like the 17 Air, might justify the shortcomings and expense.
The iPhone 17 Air is likely to be super-thin, however that’s nothing in comparison with a folding mannequin.
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Above the fold
We’ve been listening to a couple of folding iPhone for years, nevertheless it lastly looks like it’s coming. However not this yr. In 2026, Apple is predicted 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 will simply be probably the most dramatic and thrilling iPhone change because the iPhone X in 2017, and lots of Apple followers are going to need to bounce 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 trying to ship a lot in the way in which of significant digital camera upgrades, aside from a 24MP front-facing sensor and a 48MP telephoto lens. Nonetheless, a extra substantial digital camera increase may arrive subsequent yr. At the very least 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 mild reaches the sensor for the primary time. This might elevate portrait photographs by enhancing the utilized depth of area 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.
The iPhone 17 Professional’s digital camera will probably be superb, however the true large modifications are rumored to be coming subsequent yr.
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A reduce above
Apple launched the Dynamic Island with the iPhone 14 Professional, and it’s rapidly turn into 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 unpleasant—and that’s not anticipated to vary this yr.
Subsequent yr, nonetheless, Apple will reportedly change to under-display Face ID sensors, which is able to probably shrink the Dynamic Island noticeably. The conflicting stories make it exhausting to foretell whether or not the iPhone 18 Professional will function a smaller Dynamic Island or a hole-punch design, nevertheless 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 essential. iPhones from years in the past nonetheless run fluidly and carry out in a lag-free method, and a barely sooner processor received’t actually influence the every day expertise meaningfully. Nonetheless, there could also be a much bigger increase with the iPhone 18 fashions.
In 2026, Apple is predicted to unveil the A20, switching from a 3nm to a 2nm manufacturing course of. Consequently, the iPhone 18 Professional fashions could possibly be considerably extra succesful and power-efficient. However that’s not all—the iPhone 18 lineup can also be anticipated to undertake the second era of Apple’s in-house 5G modem. Not like 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 probably sticking to Qualcomm’s hungrier modem and 3nm A19 processor, it’s secure to imagine the iPhone 18 may have a superior battery life.
Subsequent yr’s iPhone lineup will probably have Apple’s second-generation modem.
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Iteration now, innovation later
In simply 12 months, Apple’s iPhone 18 sequence will probably provide a few 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 probably improved Air mannequin in addition to different important enhancements.
In the meantime, what is going to the iPhone 17 deliver? A skinny physique? A tweaked rear digital camera bump and a worth hike? We predict you’ll be higher off shopping for a reduced iPhone 16 and ready until 2026 to get one thing actually new.
