Why you shouldn’t buy an iPhone right now
If you follow Apple news, you probably know that every September brings new iPhones. That’s just around the corner! So if you’re feeling the itch to upgrade, now might be the perfect time to wait. Here’s why:
Longevity: Waiting two months could mean your next iPhone lasts a full year longer in terms of software support.
Better deals: Carriers and Apple typically offer the best trade-in and promotional pricing right when a new model is released.
What to expect in iPhone 17
While nothing is confirmed until September, rumors point to some exciting upgrades:
New, faster chips for general processing, AI, and WiFi
A 24-megapixel front-facing camera for sharper selfies and FaceTime
120 Hz ProMotion displays on all models (not just the Pros)
More memory for improved multitasking
Faster wireless charging
8K video recording for stunning detail
A new ultra-thin model called the iPhone 17 Air, rumored to be just 5.5mm thick
If even half of these rumors turn out to be true, this fall’s release will be a significant leap.
Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027
If your current phone is doing just fine, you may want to hold out for fall 2026. That’s when Apple is rumored to be launching its first foldable, iPhone 16 Fold — essentially an iPad mini that folds in half to fit in your pocket. Expect a premium price point, with rumors suggesting it could start around $2,000, which is similar to large Android foldable phones.
If that’s too rich for your blood, don’t worry; that’s just the new premium option. iPhone 18 is expected to include a greatly reduced Dynamic Island (the black cutout on top of the screen), which might reduce to a single camera hole in the corner. And of course the regular battery, camera, and speed improvements. But there are also rumors that Apple may change up their release patterns going forward, releasing the Pro and Fold models in the fall, and the iPhone 18, 18 Air, and 18e in the spring of 2027. There are even rumors that the iPhone 18 Air might become a flip phone, allowing a large phone to fold like an old cell phone to fit in your pocket more easily. All of this is long off and Apple is famously tight-lipped so we’ll see.
Other upcoming Apple updates
Apple isn’t just updating the iPhone. Here are some of the other products that may be refreshed later this year:
iPad Pro: Expected to get an M5 chip upgrade.
MacBook Pro & iMac: Likely to see M5 chips added in new models.
Apple TV: Rumored to get a new Wi-Fi chip with lower latency and support for AV1 video decoding, which would improve streaming quality while using less bandwidth.
HomePod mini 2: A refresh with faster Wi-Fi. And if we’re lucky, maybe even a full-sized HomePod 3.
AirPods Pro 3: Possibly launching in late 2025 or early 2026 with improved noise cancellation and new health features like temperature sensing or heart rate monitoring.
Bottom line
If you can hold out, waiting for the fall iPhone launch is almost always worth it. If you need a new iPhone and can’t wait for September, see my blog post on what to look for in an iPhone and why I think it almost always makes sense to buy the latest model, especially if you like to hold onto your iPhones for many years.
