There’s a rumor floating around the Appleverse—one that feels oddly familiar. Whispers suggest that Apple might skip the iPhone 19 completely, just like it did with the iPhone 9. Déjà vu, anyone?
If your memory needs a quick refresh, let me remind you: there was never an iPhone 9. Back in 2017, Apple decided to skip the iPhone 9 and went straight from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone X (pronounced “ten”). The latter was launched on the 10th anniversary celebration of the iPhone. It wasn’t just marketing flair—it was Apple’s way of marking a new era of innovation, symbolized by Face ID, edge-to-edge displays, and the infamous notch.
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus were launched alongside the X, giving buyers the choice between tradition and the future. The missing 9? Collateral damage in Apple’s pursuit of “the next big thing.”
Fast-forward to today, and history might be on track to repeat itself. With reports hinting that the standard iPhone 18 could be delayed until March 2027, the timeline starts lining up a little too neatly. If Apple follows its usual September release cycle for the Pro models, that would mean the 20th iPhone generation would land right around Apple’s 20-year iPhone anniversary. And you know Apple—they love a clean, cinematic number. “iPhone 20” or “iPhone XX” which one do you think it will be?
As for what Apple has against the number 9? Nobody really knows. You know how they say that the number eight is afraid of seven because “seven (7) ate (8) nine (9)”. Well, I think, in Apple’s case, everyone should be more afraid of the tens.So, if the rumors are true, we might be jumping straight from the iPhone 18 to the 20, leaving iPhone 19 behind in oblivion. Am I the only one that feels a little sad for the poor number?
