A new leak suggests Apple could begin manufacturing the standard iPhone 18 in late November, with a possible March release alongside the iPhone 18e.
Apple may begin production of the standard iPhone 18 at the end of November, according to a new leak shared by a tipster on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
The report adds to speculation that Apple will release its standard iPhone 18 model in spring 2027, several months after introducing the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September 2026.
According to the tipster, Apple is preparing a considerable number of units based on the expected stock volume. However, the report does not specify how many devices are planned or what the production estimate is being compared with.
iPhone 18 production and stock rumours
The latest claim appears to conflict with an earlier post from the same tipster, which suggested Apple would reduce its expected iPhone 18 inventory while shifting more attention towards the iPhone 18 Pro Max and its rumoured foldable smartphone.
The two reports leave uncertainty over Apple’s production strategy. Although the latest leak describes the planned stock as substantial, it does not establish whether the volume would exceed previous expectations or represent a large production run for the standard model.
Apple has not commented on the reported manufacturing schedule or its inventory plans.
iPhone 18 may launch in March 2027
A production start at the end of November would be consistent with a potential spring launch. The same tipster claims the iPhone 18 could debut in March 2027 alongside the iPhone 18e.
If accurate, the schedule would mark a departure from Apple’s traditional practice of introducing its main iPhone lineup in the autumn, potentially spreading releases across different parts of the year.
Expected iPhone 18 specifications
Previous rumours suggest the standard iPhone 18 could feature a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Apple’s A20 chipset and 9GB of RAM.
These specifications remain unconfirmed, and details could change before the device is announced.
Apple has yet to officially confirm the iPhone 18’s launch date, production timeline or hardware specifications. The reported March 2027 release should therefore be treated as speculation until the company provides further information.