It has been claimed that Apple could change the product lineup of the affordable iPhone models it will introduce in spring 2027. According to the “Early Apple” account on X, Apple is considering removing the standard iPhone 18 from the lineup and replacing it with the iPhone Air 2. The Air 2 name may not be used; the slim phone could go on sale under the iPhone 18 name with a price of 999 dollars. However, the account’s source is unknown and it has no track record of verified leaks. The claim contradicts rumors that the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and second-generation iPhone Air will be unveiled together in spring 2027. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to be introduced earlier, while the first foldable iPhone is expected to be scheduled alongside the high-end models. Early Apple shared a photo in April that was claimed to show an iPhone 18 Pro prototype; the claim should be treated with caution.
Why it matters
The significance of this claim lies less in its potential to change expectations about the model naming and product positioning of Apple’s affordable products than in its potential to increase the uncertainty in the existing rumor landscape. However, the source’s lack of a verified track record means the information is not a reliable indication of the company’s plans. The claim’s contradiction with other rumors leaves open the questions of which models will be introduced during the same period in spring 2027 and under which name the slim phone will be positioned. Therefore, rather than providing a definitive framework for the product schedule or model selection, the report shows that unverified leaks should be assessed by comparing them with current expectations.
Background
Apple is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 29 reports mentioning the name in the last 90 days; the latest is dated September 8, 2026.