Abstract created by Good Solutions AI
In abstract:
- Macworld reviews that the iPhone 18 Professional has reportedly entered take a look at manufacturing in accordance with Weibo leaker Mounted Focus Digital, whose prediction accuracy varies.
- This growth timing aligns with Apple’s typical manufacturing validation take a look at section, suggesting regular progress towards the gadget’s eventual launch.
- Hypothesis exists about whether or not the usual iPhone 18 or rumored iPhone Fold may additionally be included on this early testing section.
We’re within the dying days of February, and Apple’s flagship telephone launches are nonetheless greater than six months away. However in accordance with a brand new report, the corporate is making strong progress in the direction of the iPhone 18 Professional’s launch, with the gadget having simply entered take a look at manufacturing.
The leaker Mounted Focus Digital, who has a blended document however a couple of strong predictions underneath their belt, claims in a Weibo publish this week (noticed by MacRumors) that the 18-series handsets are “already in mass manufacturing testing,” including that the “iPhone 18 Professional manufacturing line has additionally began operation.” (Each quotes by way of Google Translate.)
The leaker doesn’t specify a supply for these claims, referring solely and vaguely to “present info.” One would assume they’ve entry to sources in Apple’s provide chain, which is so giant and complicated that a couple of leaks are virtually inevitable. However it additionally wouldn’t be inconceivable to guess and have a good likelihood of being proper.
As a result of, whereas this might sound early (in spite of everything, we haven’t even received the iPhone 17e but), that is fairly commonplace timing. Apple’s street to a shipped {hardware} product has quite a few stops alongside the best way, going via Engineering Validation Check (EVT), Design Validation Check (DVT), and Manufacturing Validation Check (PVT) earlier than precise mass manufacturing begins. February is roughly after we would anticipate DVT to transition into PVT.
A extra fascinating query is how the usual iPhone 18 suits into all of this. Mounted Focus’s preliminary reference to the “iPhone 18 collection,” somewhat than the iPhone 18 Professional particularly, because it does within the second half, seems to indicate that the iPhone 18 is included within the mass manufacturing testing. Certainly, each Apple information website I’ve seen overlaying this story has taken that to be the leaker’s which means, which would go away us in a scenario the place Apple is already production-testing the iPhone 18 despite the fact that it isn’t anticipated to return out till spring 2027.
That’s not inconceivable–the iPhone 18 could possibly be in an earlier validation stage, reminiscent of EVT–however the vagueness of the prediction, mixed with potential for confusion launched by having to translate the publish from Chinese language, makes me surprise if that may not be what is supposed. May or not it’s that Mounted Focus is as a substitute together with the iPhone Fold within the “18 collection” of iPhones, provided that it’ll launch alongside them and is successfully a part of that technology? Is it even potential that the leaker thinks the gadget shall be referred to as the iPhone 18 Fold?
Regardless, we’ll get lots extra alternatives to look at the brand new telephones’ progress as we head in the direction of the massive launch. For all the newest information and rumors, bookmark our often up to date iPhone 18 superguide. And naturally, for those who can’t wait till September, test our roundup of the finest iPhone offers to be sure to’re paying the bottom potential worth on the present vary. Simply wait till we’ve seen the iPhone 17e earlier than making that buy.
