iPhone 18 Production Reportedly Starts In Late November For A Spring 2027 Launch

Apple’s September event skipped the standard iPhone 18 altogether. We saw this coming. Rumors that the company would split its September event into two halves — one focused on premium offerings and the other on the relatively affordable non-Pro models — have circulated online since the beginning of the year. 

Now, a new Weibo leak suggests the phone will enter production in late November. Interestingly, Apple is preparing a large stock for the baseline variant, as it expects to sell more units than before. 

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Why Is Apple Stockpiling The iPhone 18 So Early?

Leaker Fixed Focus Digital explicitly mentions that the iPhone 18 inventory being lined up is big. From where I’m sitting, Apple has reason to feel confident. Counterpoint Research found the standard iPhone 17 (review) topped global smartphone sales in both the first and second quarters of 2026, ahead of even the Pro Max and Pro. 

Or at least, that is what people are talking about. In my opinion, the iPhone 17 topped the global sales chart because of its aggressive price and the well-rounded package it offered. After the recent price hike, the iPhone 17 costs ₹99,990 in India, up from its release price of ₹83,990; I’m not confident recommending it or buying it myself. 

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If the iPhone 18’s launch price breaks this threshold, it will be one of the toughest smartphones to sell or recommend, at least for me.

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What Will You Get, And When Can You Buy It?

Spring 2027, according to current reports, alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2. Expect a design close to the iPhone 17’s, plus a smaller Dynamic Island, an A20 chip, and Apple’s C2 modem. 

One report adds a twist: Apple is reportedly trimming chip specs (perhaps a binned version) and moving to a cheaper manufacturing process to cut costs. RAM is tipped to rise to 9GB from 8GB. However, some iOS 27 AI features reportedly need 12GB. 

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