Apple is gearing up for some big changes to its iPhone lineup in 2027. According to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is planning to launch a larger iPhone 19 Air along with the second-generation version of its long-awaited foldable iPhone. As competition heats up in major markets like China, Apple seems to be leaning into a more flexible hardware strategy to better compete with brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, and Huawei.
The iPhone 19 Air is expected to come with a bigger screen than the iPhone 18 Air, which will follow this year’s ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. While Kuo didn’t mention the exact size, past reports suggest Apple has been testing a 6.9-inch prototype. The iPhone 17 Air, set to launch this fall, will feature a 6.6-inch display and an incredibly slim 5.5mm design, making it the thinnest iPhone yet. If Apple revisits its earlier plans, the iPhone 19 Air might bring back that larger size that was previously scrapped due to design challenges.
The Air lineup is expected to fully replace the current Plus models. With an annual update cycle, the iPhone 18 Air will arrive in 2026 with some modest upgrades. Then in 2027, the iPhone 19 Air could land as a lighter, sleeker alternative to the Pro Max, packing a bigger screen into a slim body.
Apple’s updated roadmap also includes its first foldable iPhone coming in late 2026, followed by a second-gen model in 2027. Kuo says the next version will offer major improvements like a tougher, crease-free display, a better hinge design, and a high-end build aimed at delivering a smooth and refined user experience. While Apple is clearly learning from foldable leaders like Samsung, it’s reportedly aiming to go one better with a more polished and cohesive product.
There’s also a chance we’ll see a completely redesigned iPhone Pro model in 2027, which happens to mark the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has previously reported that Apple is working on a bold new Pro with a true edge-to-edge screen, which could mark a leap forward similar to what we saw with the iPhone X back in 2017.
To handle the growing number of models, Apple is expected to start staggering its iPhone releases beginning in 2026. Premium versions like the Pro and the foldables will still launch in the fall, while the regular and Air models could shift to a spring release. This split schedule would help smooth out production and keep sales steady all year long.
(via Ming-Chi Kuo)
