iPhone 18 Release Date: When Every Model Comes Out (Updated September 2026)
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Updated September 16, 2026, one week after Apple's "Surprise and shine" event.
Quick answer: The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max were announced on September 9, 2026, opened for pre-order on September 12, and went on sale Friday, September 18. The iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable, opens for pre-order on October 16 and arrives in stores on October 23. The standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 are not part of this launch; every credible report puts them in spring 2027.
So if you're asking "is the iPhone 18 out?", the honest answer is: the Pro models are, the foldable is a month away, and the regular iPhone 18 is still six months out. Here's the full schedule, what each model costs, and how long you'll actually wait for delivery.
iPhone 18 Release Dates at a Glance
| Model | Announced | Pre-orders | In stores | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | Sept 9, 2026 | Sept 12, 2026 | Sept 18, 2026 | $1,199 (256GB) |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | Sept 9, 2026 | Sept 12, 2026 | Sept 18, 2026 | $1,299 (256GB) |
| iPhone Duo (foldable) | Sept 9, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | $1,999 (256GB) |
| iPhone 18 (standard) | Not yet | Spring 2027 (reported) | Spring 2027 (reported) | TBA |
| iPhone 18e / iPhone Air 2 | Not yet | Spring 2027 (reported) | Spring 2027 (reported) | TBA |
Is the iPhone 18 Out Yet?
Partly. As of September 18, 2026, you can walk into an Apple Store and buy an iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, stock permitting. The iPhone Duo is announced but not shipping until October 23. And there is no standard iPhone 18 at all this fall. This is the first time Apple has split the iPhone lineup across two seasons, so if you've been waiting for "the new iPhone 18" and mean the regular model, you're waiting until 2027.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max: What Apple Announced
The Pro models keep the 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch sizes and, notably, the exact same body dimensions as the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. The changes are inside:
- A20 Pro chip built on a 2-nanometer process, with a GPU Apple says is 40% faster than the A19 Pro and double the AI compute.
- 48MP main camera with a variable aperture (f/1.48 to f/4), a first for iPhone, plus new manual Pro controls for aperture, shutter speed and white balance.
- A smaller Dynamic Island that can show up to three Live Activities at once.
- Apple's C2 cellular modem with mmWave 5G in the US, and the N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
- Longer battery life: up to 36 hours of video playback on the Pro and 45 hours on the Pro Max, with 50% charge in about 15 minutes wired.
- A bigger vapor chamber with three times the surface area of the 17 Pro, for sustained performance.
Colors: black, silver, glacier, and a new burgundy. Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. Price: $1,199 for the 18 Pro and $1,299 for the 18 Pro Max, both $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro models launched at. US models are eSIM-only.
iPhone 18 Pro Delivery Delays: When Will You Actually Get One?
If you didn't pre-order in the first hour, expect to wait. By September 14, two days after pre-orders opened, Apple's US delivery estimates had already slipped to late September for the iPhone 18 Pro and early-to-mid October for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, across every color and capacity. Carrier stock varies, and in-store pickup on launch day is your best shot at skipping the queue. Check Apple's site for the current estimate on your configuration before you assume a date.
iPhone Duo: Apple's First Foldable Comes Out October 23
Apple dropped the "18" from the name. It's simply iPhone Duo, although you'll still see it listed as the iPhone 18 Duo in plenty of places, including our own store. The facts:
- Pre-orders: Friday, October 16, 2026 at 5 a.m. PT. Availability: Friday, October 23 in more than 70 countries.
- Price: from $1,999 for 256GB, with 512GB, 1TB and 2TB options above that. It's the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold.
- Displays: a 7.6-inch inner screen when open and a 5.4-inch outer screen when closed, both ProMotion with 3,000 nits peak brightness.
- Design: a polished Grade 5 titanium frame, Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, Ceramic Shield on the back, IP68, and a hinge built from more than 100 components. Open, it's the thinnest iPhone Apple has made.
- Touch ID in the side button instead of Face ID, plus Apple Watch unlock.
- Colors: Star White and Night Sky.
We've written a full guide to protecting the iPhone Duo. Short version: two screens, a hinge and a $2,000 price tag make a case less optional than on any iPhone before it.
Standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e: Spring 2027
Apple hasn't officially announced the standard iPhone 18, but the reporting has been consistent for over a year: the base iPhone 18, the budget iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2 are expected in March or April 2027. The reason is a deliberate shift to a split launch cycle, giving the Pro and foldable models the fall and the mainstream models the spring. If you want the regular iPhone 18, the realistic options are to wait until spring or buy an iPhone 17 now.
iPhone 18 Price: Every Model
- iPhone 18 Pro: from $1,199 (256GB), or $49.95 a month over 24 months.
- iPhone 18 Pro Max: from $1,299 (256GB), or $54.12 a month.
- iPhone Duo: from $1,999 (256GB), or $83.29 a month. The 2TB model lands well above $3,000.
- iPhone 18 / 18e: not announced. Expect Apple to hold the 18e near $599 and the standard model near the iPhone 17's $799, but treat that as a guess until spring.
Apple Trade In is offering $175 to $885 toward a new Pro for an iPhone 13 or newer, and carriers are advertising up to $1,200 in credits for an iPhone 14 or newer.
Should You Wait for the iPhone 18, or Buy Now?
If you want a Pro, there's nothing to wait for. The 18 Pro is the best iPhone Apple sells today and it's shipping. If you want the standard model, waiting until spring gets you the A20-generation chip and the smaller Dynamic Island, but you'll spend six months with your current phone. If you want a foldable, October 23 is close enough that buying anything else now makes little sense. We've compared the iPhone 18 Pro against the 17 Pro in detail if you're deciding whether to upgrade.
Getting Ready for Day One
Your iPhone 17 Pro case will probably fit. Because Apple kept the dimensions identical, most iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max cases physically fit the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. Apple isn't guaranteeing it, tight camera cutouts can still cause trouble, and the new phones are heavier, so we've laid out exactly when a 17 case is fine and when it isn't.
Have protection ready before the phone arrives. The first week is when a new phone is most likely to be carried naked. Our iPhone 18 lineup is in stock now: The Ultimate ($79.99, aramid fiber, 5 meters of stone-tested drop protection, Pro and Pro Max), the Ultra Slim Clear ($59.99, 3 meters, Pro, Pro Max and Duo), and the Ultimate Aero ($99.99, built only for the iPhone Duo). Every case comes with a free tempered glass screen protector ($59.99 value), and every case carries the Dropguys guarantee: if your iPhone breaks while it's in our case, you get 100% of your money back.
See the full iPhone 18 collection, or read our ranking of the best iPhone 18 cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the iPhone 18 come out?
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max came out on September 18, 2026. The iPhone Duo comes out on October 23, 2026. The standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are expected in spring 2027.
Is the iPhone 18 out?
The Pro and Pro Max are out and on sale. The foldable iPhone Duo ships October 23. The regular iPhone 18 has not been announced and isn't expected until spring 2027.
When does the iPhone 18 Pro Max come out?
It went on sale September 18, 2026, after pre-orders opened September 12. Delivery estimates for new orders slipped into October within days.
How much is the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
$1,299 for the 256GB model, rising with 512GB, 1TB and 2TB options. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199.
What colors does the iPhone 18 Pro come in?
Black, silver, glacier and burgundy. Burgundy is the new color for this generation. See our iPhone 18 Pro colors guide.
When does the foldable iPhone come out?
The iPhone Duo opens for pre-order October 16 and is available October 23, 2026, starting at $1,999.
When does the regular iPhone 18 come out?
Apple hasn't announced it. Reports consistently point to spring 2027 alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2.
Will my iPhone 17 case fit the iPhone 18?
For the Pro and Pro Max, most will, because the dimensions are identical. Apple doesn't guarantee it, and cases with tight camera rings or built-in lens protectors are the ones most likely to have problems. The iPhone Duo needs a case designed for it.