Quick answer
The iPhone 18 models in Apple's catalogue are the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, both with the A20 Pro chip and both shipping on iOS 27.0. They support Apple Intelligence and can run the iOS 27.2 beta. Many pre-launch claims, including an A19 iPhone 18, a foldable Pro Max and a standard iPhone 18 and 18 Plus this autumn, did not show up.
About this page
This article was first published in May 2026, before WWDC and before Apple's autumn iPhone launch, and it collected what was being reported about the iPhone 18 and iOS 27 at the time. We have rewritten it now that both are out. Below you will find what Apple's own software catalogue confirms, followed by an honest look at how the earlier claims compare.
Which iPhone 18 models exist
Two iPhone 18 models appear in the list of devices Apple publishes iOS software for: the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The Pro Max comes in a US version and a global version, and each gets its own IPSW file.
| iPhone | Chip | Released | Launch software |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | A20 Pro | 2026 | iOS 27.0 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | A20 Pro | 2026 | iOS 27.0 |
| iPhone 17e | A19 | 2026 | iOS 26 |
| iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max | A19 Pro | 2025 | iOS 26 |
| iPhone Air | A19 Pro | 2025 | iOS 26 |
| iPhone 17 | A19 | 2025 | iOS 26 |
There is no standard iPhone 18 or iPhone 18 Plus in that catalogue as of 19 October 2026. If Apple adds more iPhone 18 models later, they will appear there first, and we will update this page.
iOS 27 on the iPhone 18 Pro
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max started life on iOS 27.0, build 24A437, released on 14 September 2026. That is the earliest software Apple lists for them.
| Build | Version | Released | IPSW size (18 Pro) |
|---|---|---|---|
24A437 | iOS 27.0 | 14 September 2026 | 12.76 GB |
24A446 | iOS 27.0.1 | 28 September 2026 | 12.76 GB |
24B5110a | iOS 27.2 beta 4 | 13 October 2026 | 13.72 GB |
The iPhone 18 Pro Max files for iOS 27.0.1 are 12.88 GB for the US model and 12.73 GB for the global model. Every build, with signing status and checksums, is on our iPhone 18 Pro IPSW page and iPhone 18 Pro Max IPSW page.
One practical consequence: the iPhone 18 Pro models cannot be downgraded to iOS 26, because Apple never made iOS 26 for them. If you put one on the iOS 27.2 beta, your way back is a restore of the current public iOS 27 release, not an older major version.
Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 18 Pro
Apple Intelligence on iPhone needs an A17 Pro chip or newer, so the A20 Pro models are covered. The full list of iPhones that get it today:
- iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
- iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air and iPhone 17e
- iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16e
- iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus run iOS 27 but, with the A16 chip, do not get Apple Intelligence. Region and language rules also apply; our guide to Apple Intelligence availability by device and region covers those.
How the pre-launch claims compare
The earlier version of this page repeated a long list of reported specs. Here is how each one stands against what Apple has actually released. Where the record says nothing, we say so rather than guess.
| Pre-launch claim | What the record shows now |
|---|---|
| iPhone 18 uses an A19 chip | Wrong. The A19 and A19 Pro shipped in 2025 in the iPhone 17 family and iPhone Air. The iPhone 18 Pro uses the A20 Pro. |
| A foldable iPhone 18 Fold or Pro Max Fold | No foldable iPhone appears in Apple's catalogue. See our iPhone Fold tracker for what has been reported. |
| iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Plus in September 2026 | Neither appears in Apple's catalogue as of 19 October 2026. The two new models this autumn are both Pro models. |
| Prices from $899 to $1,999 | Not confirmed here. Check apple.com for current prices in your country. |
| New Pro colours such as Deep Ocean Blue and Desert Bronze | Not confirmed by anything this site tracks. |
| Two-day battery, 8K video, 5x or 7x zoom, 8 GB RAM minimum | Unverified. We have removed these figures. |
| iOS 27 developer beta on 8 June 2026 | Correct. Developer beta 1 (24A5355q) shipped on the day of the WWDC keynote. |
| iOS 27 public release in September | Correct. iOS 27.0 (24A437) arrived on 14 September 2026. |
| iOS 27 runs on every iPhone that runs iOS 26 | Correct. iOS 27 supports the iPhone 11 and later and the iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). |
| Full Apple Intelligence needs an A17 Pro or later | Correct for iPhone. |
| "Apple Intelligence 2.0" with conversational Siri | We cannot confirm that name. For the features iOS 27 brings, see our full iOS 27 features list. |
The software side of the predictions held up far better than the hardware side. The iOS 27 schedule and device support followed the pattern Apple has used for years, while specific chip, design and pricing claims about the iPhone 18 were mostly off.
The iOS 27 release so far
Apple announced iOS 27 at the WWDC 2026 keynote on 8 June 2026 and released the first developer beta the same day. Apple shipped eight developer betas in all before the release candidate.
| Milestone | Build | Date |
|---|---|---|
| iOS 27.0 beta 1 | 24A5355q | 8 June 2026 |
| iOS 27.0 beta 8 | 24A5430a | 31 August 2026 |
| iOS 27.0 RC | 24A435 | 9 September 2026 |
| iOS 27.0 | 24A437 | 14 September 2026 |
| iOS 27.2 beta 1 | 24B5084k | 16 September 2026 |
| iOS 27.0.1 | 24A446 | 28 September 2026 |
| iOS 27.2 beta 4 | 24B5110a | 13 October 2026 |
The full build-by-build history is on our iOS 27 beta release timeline.
Do you need an iPhone 18 for iOS 27
No. iOS 27 runs on 33 iPhones, from the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation) up to the iPhone 18 Pro Max. What newer hardware adds is Apple Intelligence, which needs an A17 Pro or later. If your iPhone is an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, you already get the same Apple Intelligence support as the iPhone 18 Pro, subject to region and language.
What to do next
If you have an iPhone 18 Pro, or any iPhone from the iPhone 11 onward, and want to try what Apple is testing for iOS 27.2, start with our guide to installing the iOS 27 beta.
Frequently asked questions
Which iPhone 18 models are available?
Apple's software catalogue lists two: the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max, the Pro Max in separate US and global versions with their own IPSW files. There is no standard iPhone 18 or iPhone 18 Plus in that catalogue as of 19 October 2026. The other iPhone added in 2026 is the iPhone 17e, which arrived in the spring running iOS 26 and now runs iOS 27.
What chip is in the iPhone 18 Pro?
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max use the A20 Pro. That corrects a widely repeated pre-launch claim that the iPhone 18 would use an A19 chip: the A19 and A19 Pro actually went into the iPhone 17 family and iPhone Air in 2025, and the A19 is also in the iPhone 17e. This site does not report manufacturing-process or performance figures it cannot verify.
Does the iPhone 18 Pro come with iOS 27?
Yes. The earliest software Apple lists for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is iOS 27.0, build 24A437, released on 14 September 2026. They have since received iOS 27.0.1 (24A446), and they can install the iOS 27.2 beta, currently beta 4 (24B5110a). Neither model can be downgraded to iOS 26, because Apple never released iOS 26 for them.
Is there a foldable iPhone 18?
Not in Apple's catalogue. Pre-launch reports described an iPhone 18 Fold or a foldable Pro Max, but no foldable iPhone appears among the devices Apple publishes software for as of 19 October 2026. The 2026 iPhones that do appear are the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17e. Our separate iPhone Fold page tracks what has been reported about a foldable model.
Does the iPhone 18 Pro support Apple Intelligence?
Yes. Apple Intelligence on iPhone needs an A17 Pro chip or newer, and the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max both qualify. So do the iPhone 17 family, iPhone Air, iPhone 17e, the iPhone 16 family including the iPhone 16e, and the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which use the A16, do not get it.
Can older iPhones get iOS 27 without buying an iPhone 18?
Yes. iOS 27 runs on 33 iPhones: the iPhone 11 and later plus the iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation), which is every iPhone that ran iOS 26. The iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and older do not get it. Some features, Apple Intelligence in particular, need newer hardware, so an iPhone 13 runs iOS 27 without the Apple Intelligence features.