Not upgrading to the iPhone 18 Pro or Duo? Here’s what’s coming next year

Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo have just started and the iPhone 18 Pro has been on the market for about a month. Of course, the iPhone Duo is currently out of stock until January, so whether or not you’re considering buying these phones, it’s very easy to think about what’s next.

2027 will be a relatively important iPhone release year for Apple. First, the company will continue the iPhone 18 lineup after introducing a split release schedule last month. Then, in the fall, the company will launch a new series of flagship products to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone. Here’s what to expect.

Spring 2027

iPhone18

For the first time, Apple will present its basic iPhone in the spring. Upgrades for the iPhone 18 aren’t entirely clear, although more RAM is one of the top rumors. Thermal upgrades will likely also take place, along with the new Apple C2 modem.

It’s possible that Apple will update the design to be more in line with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro, although we don’t know yet.

This phone will of course feature the A20 chip, and it will likely start at the same $899 price as the iPhone 17 – after being raised from $799 last month.

iPhone 18e

This phone will most likely end up being a chip upgrade from the A19 chip to the A20 chip, and will debut in the spring alongside the iPhone 18. Earlier this year, reports indicated that Apple would share many components between the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, although it’s unclear what that could mean for the devices.

iPhoneAir2

Of all the spring iPhone releases, this is the one to look forward to. After receiving a mixed reception with the initial iPhone Air model, Apple went back to the drawing board and decided to change the design to integrate an ultra-wide camera into the device. This meant the phone couldn’t go to market last month.

Personally, I don’t think an ultra-wide camera is too important – although many people will see a camera on the back of the phone and immediately assume it’s less premium, so it will probably end up being a significant upgrade for the sake of sales. Plus, ultra-wide photos can be fun sometimes.

Although it’s not confirmed, I wouldn’t be surprised if it features a smaller Dynamic Island, similar to the iPhone 18 Pro. The iPhone Air 2 will also likely move from the Apple C1X modem to the C2.

It is also expected to have a larger battery, up to 3,500 mAh. That’s about a 10% improvement over the original iPhone Air.

Fall 2027

iPhone 20 Pro

For the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, Apple is expected to release a completely redesigned iPhone to celebrate. It would reportedly be much glassier, feature significantly thinner bezels, and ditch the flat-edged design of the iPhone 12 and later. It should also offer a much smaller Dynamic Island, likely with a punch-hole selfie camera and under-screen Face ID.

Personally, I’m slightly skeptical that this is truly a replacement for the ‘Pro’ phone for thermal reasons, but time will tell. The iPhone Duo apparently has high thermal temperatures while not featuring an aluminum unibody, so my concern may not be relevant.

If you are waiting for the iPhone 18 Pro, this “iPhone 20” is definitely the phone you should wait for.

iPhone Duo2

Finally, Apple will launch a successor to its just-announced iPhone Duo next fall. There aren’t many substantial rumors about this phone, although one would hope that Face ID and better cameras are in the works. Of course, you can expect a new generation of Apple Silicon with the A21 Pro chip next year.

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