Apple reduces iPhone 17 production and saves on iPhone 18: What's happening with the lineup?

Apple is facing changing market conditions. On one hand, demand for the current iPhone 17 lineup has begun to weaken; on the other, the company is already planning significant cost savings on the next model.

Reduced iPhone 17 production

According to sources in the supply chain, Apple has cut iPhone 17 production plans by approximately 15%. This was reported by the insider "Fixed Focus Digital" on Weibo. According to his information, current expectations will not last long, and major smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, are revising shipment forecasts downward.

Chinese brands are showing a similar trend: Xiaomi has reduced its targets by 20–30%, OPPO, vivo, and Honor by 15–30%.

Experts attribute this to the natural product cycle. The iPhone 17 was released in September 2025 and posted record sales. However, nine months later, with the impending release of the iPhone 18, demand has naturally begun to decline.

Savings on iPhone 18

At the same time, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed details of the next lineup. According to his data, the base iPhone 18 and the budget iPhone 18e (expected in spring 2027) will receive just 9 GB of RAM. This is only a small increase from the 8 GB in current base models. Previously, many experts had expected a jump to 12 GB.

Apple has opted for a configuration of six 1.5 GB chips paired with the A20 processor. The reason is high component costs and supply chain constraints.

What the new processor will deliver

Despite the RAM savings, the A20 chip, manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process, is expected to provide a noticeable boost:

• Approximately 15% more powerful CPU
• Up to 30% better energy efficiency compared to the A19
• Improved performance of AI features

The flagship iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple's first foldable smartphone (currently known as the iPhone Ultra) will receive 12 GB of RAM and the more powerful A20 Pro chip.

When to expect the new models

The main iPhone 18 lineup is expected traditionally in the fall of 2026. The budget iPhone 18e, if the information is confirmed, will arrive later — in spring 2027.

In brief

Apple has reduced iPhone 17 production by approximately 15% due to weakening demand after record sales. At the same time, the company has decided to save on the next lineup: the base iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will receive just 9 GB of RAM instead of the expected 12 GB. The A20 processor is expected to deliver performance and energy efficiency gains, but the flagship models and the foldable iPhone Ultra will retain 12 GB of RAM. Apple continues to balance component costs with user experience.