Apple iPhone Air 2 said to replace iPhone 18, but won’t get any cheaper

The Apple iPhone Air ($779 on Amazon) is currently available alongside the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17e, and the iPhone 17 Pro (Max). On Wednesday, the Pro models are set to be replaced by the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max, while the iPhone Ultra is expected to be unveiled as the company’s first model with a foldable display.

This brings the total number of different iPhone models offered by Apple to six, making the portfolio twice as large as it was just a few years ago. The leaker Early Apple is now suggesting that the company might scrap the base iPhone 18 model, which was scheduled to launch in spring 2027. Instead, the iPhone Air 2 is reportedly set to be marketed simply as the iPhone 18, though the price in the U.S. will allegedly remain unchanged at $999.

While this would make the entry-level model of the current iPhone generation significantly more expensive, rumors suggest that the second-generation iPhone Air will receive five upgrades that will make the smartphone more suitable for the mass market. First and foremost, Apple is said to be pairing the 48-megapixel main camera with a 48 MP ultra-wide-angle camera. A larger battery and a more efficient 2 nm Apple A20 Pro chip should result in longer battery life. The in-house N2 chip for wireless connections and the Apple C2 5G modem are also expected to reduce power consumption, while the design is set to undergo a minor modernization with a smaller punch-hole.