CUPERTINO, California, April 9, 2026, 10:13 PDT
Fresh leaks are pointing to some indecision inside Apple over a major iPhone 18 Pro design feature, with sources saying the company hasn’t finalized what could be one of its most noticeable changes. There’s also chatter—despite disappointing uptake for the original—that an iPhone Air 2 could still be on the table. The speculation comes from Weibo leakers Digital Chat Station and Fixed Focus Digital, reports picked up by 9to5Mac and MacRumors.
Timing’s in focus here. Back in January, Reuters said Apple would prioritize launching three premium iPhones in 2026, delaying the regular iPhone 18 to 2027. Investors are already watching closely—Apple reports fiscal Q2 results on April 30. And in the opening stretch of 2026, Apple’s China smartphone sales jumped 23% even as the rest of the market slipped, putting more attention on the next iPhone cycle.
On Thursday, Digital Chat Station reported new supply-chain chatter: Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro could go one of two ways. One route hangs onto the existing display mold. The other? Some Face ID components shift underneath the screen, shrinking the Dynamic Island—the pill-shaped cutout where the front camera and sensors sit. Should Apple decide not to change molds, don’t expect much difference in the cutout, according to 9to5Mac.
According to the same leaker, the rear camera plateau is expected to stay more or less the same, aside from minor adjustments to body materials and some exterior touches. If that holds, Apple’s Pro refresh sticks to a familiar script, following what 9to5Mac reads as a steadier year after the bigger changes planned for the iPhone 17 Pro. The site pointed to its own previous coverage from March as well.
Fixed Focus Digital, posting April 6, said “Air2” is sticking with the usual release schedule, and Apple plans to push through with at least two generations—even if sales don’t pop. Two days earlier, on April 4, the account said not to expect much change on the outside of the standard iPhone 18, except maybe a tweak to the size. Weibo
The Information, as Reuters pointed out back in November, had previously reported that Apple was pushing back the next iPhone Air after the debut model failed to meet sales expectations. For context, Apple had rolled out the iPhone Air in September, highlighting it as the company’s thinnest iPhone to date—just 5.6 mm—and featuring a lone 48-megapixel rear camera.
That trade-off hasn’t gone away. Last month, Apple slashed prices on the iPhone Air by as much as 30% in its official UK Amazon store, MacRumors said Thursday—a rare discount for a current model. Reuters flagged weak demand for the original Air last year, with analysts blaming buyer hesitation over thinner design versus battery life and camera sacrifices.
Apple’s drive for slimmer devices puts it head-to-head with Samsung, which rolled out its 5.8-mm Galaxy S25 Edge before Apple’s own slim entry. NH Investment & Securities analyst Ryu Young-ho described Samsung’s move as a “calculated decision” aimed at seizing demand for thinner models. Reuters
Back when Apple rolled out its first Air, PP Foresight’s Paolo Pescatore called the slimmer device a possible shot in the arm for the iPhone lineup. IDC’s Nabila Popal added that Apple usually makes its moves “bigger or louder or better than anyone.” Taken together, those comments hint at why Apple might not be ready to shelve the Air after just one try. Reuters
The 2026 roadmap, though, remains unsettled. Digital Chat Station noted the iPhone 18 Pro’s front design is still being tested. This week, Reuters said Apple’s foldable iPhone project is facing engineering issues that could push back shipments—Bloomberg, however, reported the device is still targeting September, launching with the Pro lineup. Both Bloomberg and MacRumors have flagged spring 2027 for the standard iPhone 18 and Air 2, so this latest leak stands at odds with those updates.
IDC is forecasting a 12.9% drop in smartphone shipments for 2026, blaming a tight memory-chip supply, Reuters said in February. Even so, Apple and Samsung are expected to keep clawing share, as weaker brands get squeezed. Against that backdrop, Apple’s moves—think the iPhone 18 Pro’s screen cutout or just keeping the Air line alive—are less about style than about nudging customers toward pricier models.
