Top leak: Android phones to copy iPhone 18 series in major market shift; Xiaomi first in line

One of the top smartphone tipsters has hinted at a significant shift in release strategies for Andorid phones, following the September launch of the iPhone 18 Pro.

According to multiple reports (including the latest one), Apple is indeed expected to delay the launch of the vanilla iPhone 18 until the spring of 2027, while prioritizing the premium iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, as well as the foldable iPhone Ultra. However, the iPhone 18 launch delay is likely due to the complexity of the new 2nm A20 silicon, says the latest info.

Android will copy new iPhone 18 series split release strategy, says leak; Xiaomi 18 series to be first to follow Apple's lead

However, the second part of the leak is perhaps more significant, as it states several Android phone-makers are about to follow Apple’s lead in how they release new phones, strongly suggesting a gradual release cycle for flagship phones coming from Chinese OEMs and maybe even Google and Samsung.

In related news, Xiaomi is said to follow Apple’s lead sooner than anyone else. Another leak suggests the Xiaomi 18 series will also see a split release, with the high-end Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Ultra arriving first to compete directly with the iPhone 18 Pro series.

Another hint at what’s to come is the fact that Xiaomi has moved up the release of its mid-year refresh, the Xiaomi 17T series (now officially confirmed for a May 28 debut) by almost four months.

If the leaks are true, this would be far from the first time Android has been so quick to copy Apple’s actions. For reference, we saw dozens of orange Android phones launch following the release of the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro. Meanwhile, there are reports about red Android flagships already in the works, meant to compete with Apple’s unreleased (but rumored) Dark Cherry colorway for the iPhone 18 Pro.