In the fall of 2026, the whole world is expecting the iPhone 18. But there’s a chance this smartphone won’t exist — because it simply doesn’t exist. At least not under that name. It’s not that Apple canceled the flagship release: the company has already skipped several numbers in its product naming before, so it could happen again — especially considering that the new iPhone will have more new features than ever.

We certainly won’t be left without a flagship

According to insider Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi may skip the Xiaomi 18 series and release Xiaomi 26 instead. Simply so the flagship’s name aligns with the year 2026. Symbolic, isn’t it? And it’s very similar to what Apple did with iOS 19, which we never saw, along with the following mobile operating systems:

  • iOS 20
  • iOS 21
  • iOS 22
  • iOS 23
  • iOS 24
  • iOS 25

This isn’t the first time the Chinese manufacturer has followed Apple’s lead on numbering. Back in 2025, the company skipped number 16 and after Xiaomi 15 released Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max — all to ensure the flagship names matched the current iPhone lineup.

You might ask: what does a Chinese brand have to do with Apple? The thing is, history may repeat itself, but in the opposite direction this time.

When Will iPhone 18 Come Out

Most likely, it never will. Just like the iPhone 9 never came out, and neither did the iPhone 10: after the iPhone 8, Apple went straight to iPhone X — and nobody really objected or was surprised. Everyone simply understood that this move symbolized a new generation: a round number, edge-to-edge display, Face ID. What better name than X?

iPhone X — a legend, the gold standard for modern iPhone design. Image: t3.com

Now the situation is similar, but for a different reason. In 2025, Apple carried out a major rebranding: after iOS 18, it released not iOS 19, but iOS 26 — so the OS version would match the year in which it would be relevant for most of its lifespan. The same logic was applied to all platforms: iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26.

Now, if you see macOS 26, iOS 26, and watchOS 26 — it’s immediately clear they’re from the same generation. It’s all one unified ecosystem of a single year.

Now imagine: the box says iPhone 17, but inside — iOS 26. Completely different numbers, different logic. Looks a bit odd, doesn’t it? By the way, that’s the iPhone 17 in a nutshell — strange and ambiguous. You want to buy it for the orange color, but the other five reasons suggest you should wait for the next generation. The only doubt is whether the iPhone 18 will come out at all.

iPhone 26 Pro Launching in 2026 Sounds Logical

In short, Apple doesn’t like confusion, which is why it dropped intermediate models with S in the name (like iPhone 5s) and switched all its operating systems to clear ordinal numbers. It’s logical to assume that if the OS is called iOS 26, the next one will be iOS 27, and so on — by year of release.

Can a smartphone that ships with iOS 27 and will be relevant throughout 2027 really be called iPhone 18? The system doesn’t add up, and iPhone 26 would fit much more naturally into this scheme: one year — one number. So, iPhone 26 in 2026, and iPhone 27 in 2027. And so on. There’s precedent, there’s logic, and competitors are already testing the waters.

What Will iPhone 26 Be Like

But regardless of what the new device is called, the smartphone promises to be a serious upgrade. The improvements were compelling enough that I even changed my mind about getting the iPhone 17 Pro and decided to wait until fall. In the fall of 2026, Apple plans to introduce new flagships with under-display Face ID, an A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process, and a camera that will outclass all previous iPhones.

A highlight of the new iPhones — three unusual colors. Image: indiatoday.in

The flagship will also get an upgraded front camera, increased RAM, and a compact Dynamic Island — all while the price of the iPhone 18 compared to the iPhone 17 might not increase at all. But there’s also a scenario where the new flagship could cost more.

By the way, the base iPhone 18, as well as iPhone Air 2 and iPhone 18e won’t be released this year — in short, don’t expect budget iPhones this year. This fall, we’ll only see part of the lineup — and most likely the most expensive iPhone in history, which could cost over 200,000 rubles.

But there’s no official confirmation of anything described above, of course. As usual, Apple remains silent — as it always does before a major announcement. But if the company decides to rename the flagship to iPhone 26, it wouldn’t surprise anyone at this point. At least right now, everyone is most concerned about the fact that the new iPhone 26 might end up looking like an Android smartphone.