Apple iPhone 18/18e Production Lines Have Started
According to the latest industry leaks, Apple's iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e production lines have officially launched. This is the first time in Apple's history that it plans to simultaneously release a standard version and an "e" series model. It is reported that starting with the iPhone 18 series, Apple will completely adjust its release strategy, which has been maintained for many years. The classic annual update rhythm will shift to two updates per year, and this release model aims to respond to market demands more quickly and deeply optimize the supply chain.
According to the new timeline, Apple plans to split product releases into two phases. This fall, the market will first see the top-end iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the highly anticipated milestone foldable flagship iPhone Fold.
Next March, Apple will follow up with the release of the standard iPhone 18, the more affordable iPhone 18e, and the all-new lightweight iPhone Air 2. This phased release strategy completely breaks with the tradition of new products being launched for sale exclusively in the fall.
Industry analysts believe that delaying the release of the standard iPhone 18 is mainly to give Apple greater flexibility in procurement decisions. This move can effectively avoid the super-cycle of drastic price fluctuations in core components such as memory.
By procuring parts and releasing finished products globally in batches, Apple can more accurately lower hardware costs. This not only maintains the brand's high profit margins but also gives it more flexible pricing initiative in fierce market competition.
In terms of hardware configuration, the iPhone 18 is expected to be equipped with a brand-new A20 bionic chip. This top-level processor will adopt TSMC's most advanced 2nm process manufacturing, and its performance output and energy efficiency are expected to once again refresh industry records for mobile chips.
In addition to the generational upgrade of the core processor, the iPhone 18 is also very noteworthy in terms of display and imaging. The new machine will not only be equipped with a 120Hz high refresh rate screen but will also be equipped with a 48 million pixel high-definition dual-camera system, significantly enhancing the overall competitiveness of the standard model.