The iPhone kept me sober, but not for long…
Juli Clover from MacRumors:
Starting in 2026, Apple plans to change the release cycle for its flagship iPhone lineup, according to The Information. Apple will release the more expensive iPhone 18 Pro models in the fall, delaying the release of the standard iPhone 18 until the spring.
The shift may be because Apple plans to debut a foldable iPhone in 2026, which will join the existing iPhone lineup. The fall release will include the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, an iPhone 18 Air, and the new foldable iPhone.
Later, in spring 2027, Apple will release the standard iPhone 18 and an updated version of the iPhone 16e. The less expensive iPhone models will undergo manufacturing trials in India as Apple expands efforts to reduce its reliance on Chinese manufacturing.
One of the reasons I left Android for Apple was because it curbed my tech addiction. There would be a new Android phone every few months, causing me to sell and buy new devices to the point where the AT&T reps at the store knew me by first name, ready to buy the newest Android flagship. It could also be because of my name because really, how many Fahads are there in Kansas?
With Apple, you buy one device (an iPhone 5 at the time), and it’s the flagship for the whole year.
The iPhone made me and kept me “tech sober.”
Looks like this year we will have 3 flagships, and 4 flagships next year. Most people would consider the Pro and Pro Max to be one flagship, but I consider them to be separate because it really is a tough decision to decide which size to buy. The small size feels amazing in the hand, but the large size is just so immersive.
I won’t be swayed by the mid-cycle refreshes for the base models, but to have 4 flagships in the Fall of 2026 is going to be insane. I like the idea of a regular sized iPhone that opens up into the size of an iPad mini, so a foldable isn’t out of the question.
I do have more responsibilities now with a total family count of 6, so I’ll have to make my iPhone decisions wisely.