Apple may be planning to abandon the standard iPhone 18 altogether and rebrand the iPhone Air 2 as its new $999 entry point when the most affordable iPhone models launch in spring 2027, according to a sketchy rumor.
The claim comes from the “Early Apple”
This would be a major departure from how both devices have been described thus far. More than a year of rumors have consistently described the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and Air 2 as three separate devices expected to launch together next spring, following the iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple’s first foldable iPhone arriving later this month. Given how well this three-way division has weathered the rumor cycle so far, such a drastic name change seems unlikely for 2027.
We’ve previously covered leaks from the account, including an alleged photo of the iPhone 18 Pro prototype in April, but as we noted at the time, Early Apple is a relatively new account of unknown origin with no established history, so it’s best to treat the claim as an educated guess. The rumor gained traction online, so we covered it for completeness.
The broader idea is not entirely new, however. Other observers, like Jon Prosser, raised a similar possibility a few months ago, suggesting that Apple’s ultra-thin design could eventually become the standard iPhone model rather than remaining a separate niche model, presenting it as a longer-term change rather than something arriving as early as next spring.
There is a reasonable case for some convergence over time, even if next year is too early. Apple has a history of launching design features on more expensive models before trickling down to the standard iPhone in subsequent years, and with the iPhone Air 2 expected to close the gap by adding a second rear camera, one of the biggest practical differences between the Air and the standard iPhone would disappear. So it’s plausible that a future standard iPhone could eventually resemble the Air, although an outright merger during the next product cycle remains a difficult exercise.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first foldable iPhone tomorrow, followed by the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and Air 2 in spring 2027.
