iPhone Fold releasing later than expected, as surprising iPhone 18 Plus gets a mention

Apple has been rumored, for quite a while, to enter the foldable market this year and signs have pointed towards an iPhone Fold scheduled for September, alongside the iPhone 18 series. A new report now claims a later launch date, but it also brings up an iPhone model name that hasn’t been mentioned before. Interestingly, that device is expected in March next year.

According to the report by Macrumors citing Apple analyst Tim Long, the iPhone Fold or the iPhone Ultra is likely to start shipping in December this year. Previous reports suggested a September release for this variant, but it looks like the plans have shifted a bit. This is the strategy that Apple followed with the iPhone X, with the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus launching in September, followed by the iPhone X in December.

Furthermore, the analyst also stated that the iPhone 18 launching in March next year will be accompanied by the iPhone 18e and an iPhone 18 Plus or an iPhone Air 2. Neither of the two models are surprising as previous reports have hinted at their existence, but the iPhone 18 Plus name raises curiosity. Apple discontinued the ‘Plus’ moniker with the iPhone 17 series as it replaced this variant with the iPhone 17 Air. The same could be true with the iPhone 18 series, and it is unlikely that Apple will go back to the Plus naming convention.

Conversely, sales for the iPhone Air have not been great, especially compared to the other models in the lineup. It had a strong launch but sale numbers dwindled afterwards. But, those numbers were apparently enough to warrant a second-generation device, according to reports.

For now, this September is expected to bring the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max according to Apple’s rumored staggered launch plans. In the following months, details about the rest of the lineup should become clearer.