A rumor from China states Apple will begin testing the iPhone 18 series on the mass-production line “one after another” in the very early days of January. Full production will start right before the 2026 Chinese New Year on February 17.
The iPhone 18 Pro mass-production line has already been set up, as reported by the source. This preparation positions the Pro model ahead in the manufacturing process for the series.
The iPhone 18 itself will not include exterior changes as extensive as many anticipate. The source specifies that design updates will fall short of widespread expectations for dramatic alterations.
Production timing precedes the presumed September launch by several months. The source notes no clear explanation exists for commencing manufacturing so early in the year. Details emerge from an unverified Chinese report, prompting caution in interpretation due to the absence of supporting rationale.
Rumored specs:
| Feature | iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max | iPhone 18 (Standard) |
| Launch Window | September 2026 | Spring 2027 (Anticipated) |
| Processor | A20 Pro (TSMC 2nm) | A20 (TSMC 2nm) |
| Front Display | Under-Display Face ID | Smaller Dynamic Island |
| Main Camera | Variable Aperture (Mechanical) | 48MP Fixed Aperture |
| RAM | 12GB – 16GB LPDDR6 | 12GB LPDDR6 |
| Connectivity | Apple C2 5G Modem | Apple C2 5G Modem |
