The iPhone 17 was solely launched just a few months in the past, however rumors are already circulating about subsequent yr’s iPhones. From a potential folding model to a model new iPhone 18 lineup, 2026 (and past) seems to be to be very attention-grabbing for the tech big’s cellular division.
The iPhone 18 is rumored to have a number of adjustments from its predecessor. It is mentioned to have variable aperture cameras, an under-display front-facing digital camera for Face ID, a smaller Dynamic Island, an up to date A20 chip and new, attention-grabbing colours, together with a “coffee” brown. Newest rumors recommend that the front-facing digital camera can be relocated to the highest left nook of the display screen, and the Digital camera Management button can be simplified to a pressure-sensing perform.
There are just a few the reason why you would possibly wish to await the iPhone 18, however the greatest motive you should not is that, effectively, it would not exist. Apple hasn’t formally introduced the iPhone 18. And rumors says the iPhone 18 will not come out in September 2026 (to make room for the rumored iPhone Fold) and as a substitute is perhaps launched in early 2027.
Personally, I do not assume it’s best to wait over a yr for a brand new telephone, particularly if you happen to’re contemplating an improve from an iPhone 14 or earlier mannequin. Listed below are just a few the reason why.
The iPhone 17 is nice (and so is the 17 Professional)
The iPhone 17 is one in every of our favourite telephones of 2025 and even earned a CNET Editor’s Alternative award.
If you happen to’re trying to improve your telephone, there is a shiny new iPhone stocked in shops proper now, and it is a fairly good one. The iPhone 17 is a incredible handset for iPhone devotees, particularly for a base mannequin.
Not solely does the iPhone 17 provide a barely bigger 6.3-inch show (in comparison with the iPhone 16’s 6.1-inch display screen), however it additionally incorporates a variable refresh charge of 1 to 120Hz, a primary amongst non-Professional iPhones. This allows you to allow an always-on show so you may look on the time or the present sports activities scores with out having to wake your telephone. And, in fact, the 120Hz ProMotion show additionally means elevated smoothness and responsiveness general, whether or not scrolling by social feeds or enjoying video video games.
Certain, the iPhone 18 would possibly get improved cameras, however the ones on the iPhone 17 aren’t too shabby. It has two 48-megapixel cameras on the again (a wide-angle and an ultrawide), with the ultrawide being a large improve over the one on the iPhone 16 that solely had a 12-megapixel sensor. The 18-megapixel selfie digital camera (which is on the remainder of the iPhone 17 line and the Air) can be an awesome improve, particularly with its Middle Stage perform that may zoom out if extra folks enter the shot or change from portrait to panorama with out you rotating the telephone.
On prime of that, the iPhone 17 has a sturdy aluminum body, is available in an array of beautiful colours (lavender is my favourite) and has a powerful battery life. In my expertise, it lasts greater than a day with reasonable use, and this appears to align with CNET’s Abrar Al-Heeti’s experience as effectively.
If you wish to additional bridge the hole between this yr’s iPhone and subsequent yr’s mannequin, you possibly can, in fact, spend extra on the iPhone 17 Pro. It has a beefier A19 Professional chip, a a lot better battery life (17 Pro Max) in comparison with the iPhone 17 and has that third digital camera on the again with a telephoto lens, which makes it much more versatile by providing a 4x magnification for zooming into distant topics. I ought to be aware that battery life on the iPhone 17 and the common iPhone 17 Professional are practically equivalent.
The iPhone 18’s potential launch date
Apple has a powerful providing with the iPhone 17 (left-to-right), iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Professional Max and iPhone 17 Professional.
One other vital motive to not wait to improve to the iPhone 18 is that it could not even be launched subsequent yr. Ready 9 months till subsequent fall is dangerous sufficient if in case you have an ailing telephone, however there are presently rumors that Apple may very well be switching up its iPhone launch technique.
Bloomberg has reported that the corporate plans to unveil the iPhone 18 Professional, the iPhone 18 Professional Max, and a brand new foldable within the fall of 2026. Nevertheless, the iPhone 18, iPhone 18E and a possible Air 2 are set to debut nearer to March 2027. That is over a yr away! You may definitely improve to one of many 2026 fashions, however likelihood is they will not be as inexpensive because the spring 2027 releases.
The older your telephone, the extra motive to not wait
In CNET Labs testing the battery life for the iPhone 17 sequence scored effectively — even the Air scored in addition to the iPhone 15 did when it was launched.
If in case you have the iPhone 15 or newer, you possibly can get by ready for one more yr for the iPhone 18. But when your telephone is far older than that and you prefer to a brand new iPhone, I see no motive to attend. That is particularly the case if you happen to’re experiencing efficiency and battery points.
We normally advocate upgrading in case your present mannequin is 2 generations previous, particularly in case your telephone begins having points together with your day-to-day duties. One basic consensus is that in case your battery’s most capability has dropped under 80%, and you do not wish to change the battery, it is in all probability sensible to improve. You may test this by going to your telephone’s Settings, deciding on Battery after which Battery Well being.
You may definitely preserve your telephone for longer, and Apple usually gives software program and safety help for the iPhone for effectively over 5 years. Nevertheless, you will additionally wish to preserve a watch out in case there are newer options that do not work in your machine, or if a more recent iPhone’s digital camera {hardware} would supply sufficient of an improve to be a noticeable enchancment.
However if you’re considering that you simply’d wish to get a brand new base-level iPhone anytime within the subsequent 12 months, there’s little motive to stay it out for the iPhone 18 when the iPhone 17 affords so many options.
