A leaker with a good track record says that suppliers are gearing up for iPhone 18 production as the company prepares for its new split-launch plan.
The new strategy will see the base model iPhone 18 go on sale earlier in the year, with production potentially underway by mid-February …
IPhone 18 split-launch plan
Apple’s normal iPhone release schedule is for all four models to be launched simultaneously in September, although we have seen variations on this pattern with some models delayed until a little later in the year. The only major exception has been to the iPhone SE, which has launched on a more ad hoc schedule.
However, next year we’re expecting the iPhone 18 to launch in the spring – alongside the iPhone 17e – with the iPhone 18 Pro models sticking to the usual September timings. We’ve also been expecting the iPhone Fold to launch alongside the two Pro models, though one report suggests that may now be delayed into 2027.
There are clear benefits for Apple in splitting iPhone launches in this way. Most importantly, it means that there is more production capacity available for new models, so that the company can more easily keep up with demand. A secondary benefit is that revenue generation is spread more evenly across the year, which is useful even for a company of Apple’s size.
Apple about to test iPhone 18 production
Leaker Fixed Focus Digital reports that test production of the iPhone 18 will begin very early in January with full-scale production possibly starting before the Chinese Spring Festival – which begins on February 17.
After the New Year’s Day, the iPhone 18 series will be tested on the mass production line one after another, and will be put into production before the Spring Festival at the earliest.
Test production is when a relatively small number of the finalized devices are manufactured on the actual production lines to ensure that everything goes as expected. This allows for any unexpected issues to be detected so that the manufacturing process can be tweaked if required prior to mass production.
iPhone 18 Pro assembly line built
While iPhone 18 Pro production will follow later in the year, the same report says that the first assembly line has been built.
The design of a new iPhone is typically locked down around two years ahead of launch, enabling production processes to be designed and constructed in plenty of time.
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