Apple's new iPhone series, set to be released in the fall of 2027 , will be called ' iPhone 20 ', instead of ' iPhone 19 ', according to research firm Omdia .
Speaking at a conference in Seoul, Omdia's chief researcher, Heo Moo-yeol, confirmed rumors that Apple is planning to move the launch of the basic iPhone to the first half of the year and provided additional data on what to expect by the end of 2027.
iPhone 20 instead of iPhone 19
In the first half of 2027, Apple will release the 'iPhone 18e' and 'iPhone 18'. Then, in the second half of the year, Apple will launch a new iPhone Air, the 'iPhone 20 Pro', the 'iPhone 20 Pro Max' (instead of the iPhone 19), and the second generation of the foldable iPhone.
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The move is seen as part of a broader effort to revamp the iPhone naming system and revitalize the product line in celebration of the device's 20th anniversary. It's not the first time Apple has done something like this. For the iPhone's 10th anniversary in 2017, Apple skipped the 'iPhone 9' and simply released the iPhone X (Latin for 10) alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.
Apple's plan to push the launch of the base model to the first half of the year, to launch alongside a new 'e' model, is now widely rumored. Omdia reports that starting next year, Apple expects reduced demand due to the change, as no 'iPhone 18' will be released in 2026. It also expects a temporary drop in iPhone display orders of 20 million units as a result. In the long term, this is expected to be offset by shipments of foldable iPhones.
See also: Apple's plans to release 3 new iPhone designs
In August, ETNews reported that Apple had informed some of its suppliers that the iPhone 18 would not be part of the fall 2026 iPhone lineup . Instead, the company will only unveil high-end models in the second half of next year .
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Both The Information and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in May that Apple was considering switching to a dual-year schedule to maintain sales throughout the year. By introducing new devices in both halves of the year, Apple could avoid the concentrated sales pattern that typically peaks in the fourth quarter, after the September events, and take advantage of periods that historically show weaker consumer demand. The iPhone 17 series is believed to be the last to follow Apple's traditional release structure.
