Apple is expected to expand its iPhone lineup by splitting its 2027 iPhone releases between spring and fall.

On Oct. 19, IT outlet 9to5Mac reported that Apple is expected to launch iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 next spring, and unveil iPhone 20 Pro to mark the iPhone’s 20th anniversary along with iPhone Duo 2 in the fall.

The key spring release is expected to be the base iPhone 18. Apple has adopted a strategy of separating its launch schedule, and 2027 is expected to be the first time it releases a base iPhone in the spring. Specific improvements remain unclear, but an increase in RAM, better heat performance and the inclusion of Apple C2, its in-house modem, are being mentioned. The design could also move closer to iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro. It is expected to use an A20 chip, and the starting price is seen matching iPhone 17, which rose last month from $799 (about 1,064,500 won) to $899 (about 1.2 million won).

iPhone 18e is expected to focus more on a processor change than major updates. It is likely to switch from A19 to A20 and launch in spring alongside iPhone 18. There has also been speculation that the two models could share multiple components, but the specific scope is not known.

iPhone Air 2 is being cited as the most notable of the spring releases. After the first iPhone Air received a response seen as falling short of expectations, there is speculation that Apple decided to revise the design to add an ultra-wide camera. It was reported that this is why it did not launch last month. Adding an ultra-wide camera could be an important sales improvement, given that having only 1 rear camera makes it difficult to convey an impression of a premium product.

iPhone Air 2 could also adopt a smaller Dynamic Island similar to iPhone 18 Pro. The modem is expected to change from Apple C1X to C2, and battery capacity is expected to increase to 3,500 mAh. That would be about a 10 percent increase from the existing iPhone Air.

In the fall, Apple is expected to unveil iPhone 20 Pro to mark the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. It is expected to increase the proportion of glass and significantly reduce bezels through a major design overhaul, while also changing the flat-sided design that has continued since iPhone 12. The front could feature a smaller Dynamic Island, a punch-hole selfie camera and Face ID placed under the display. It remains to be seen whether the new design can also replace existing Pro models in terms of heat management.

iPhone Duo 2, a successor to iPhone Duo, is also expected to launch next fall. There are not many rumors about detailed specifications, but improvements in Face ID and camera performance are anticipated, and it could use a next-generation A21 Pro chip.

Ultimately, the key to Apple’s 2027 iPhone strategy is expected to be how much the spring release of the base model, product improvements to iPhone Air 2 and design innovation for the 20th anniversary model are reflected in actual products.