Apple left one obvious gap on stage during its "Surprise and shine" presentation last month. The company unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a new iPhone Duo, yet the entry-level flagship never showed up.
That omission does not mean the vanilla handset is dead. Fresh leaks indicate Apple plans to move the base iPhone 18 into its own release window, targeting a global rollout around March or April 2027. That timeline includes India, where the shift in timing could come alongside a steeper price tag.
The phone is tipped to cross the Rs 1 lakh threshold in India. Apple currently sells the base iPhone 17 for Rs 99,900 in the country, leaving little room before hitting six figures if early pricing chatter holds up.
On the front, the iPhone 18 is rumoured to carry a 6.3-inch screen that finally brings a 120Hz refresh rate to the non-Pro tier. Peak brightness is said to reach 3,000 nits, matching the outdoor visibility Apple previously kept reserved for its costlier models.
Inside, the phone is expected to run on an A20 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of baseline storage. Power will reportedly come from a 4,000 mAh battery paired with 25W wired charging speeds.
Camera hardware is getting an overhaul as well. The rear array is tipped to stick with two sensors, but both are said to use 48MP resolution — one for the primary wide lens and another for the ultra-wide shooter. Selfies and video calls will supposedly rely on an upgraded 24MP front camera.
Splitting the lineup this way breaks years of Apple tradition. The company historically pushed every numerical iPhone through the door at the same September keynote. Staggering the release gives the Pro handsets and the new Duo room to breathe during the holiday quarter before a cheaper alternative lands.
None of this is official yet. Apple has not acknowledged the phone or confirmed why it missed the September showcase, and supply chain schedules can slide before production lines ramp up. If the spring schedule holds, buyers waiting on the standard model will have to hold out until early 2027.
MDFiled by The Mobile Desk
Phones from leak to launch to price cut: what was announced, what it costs where, and when it goes on sale. Indian launches and prices included, not appended.
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