Apple’s 2026 iPhone lineup could mark the company’s biggest leap yet in mobile connectivity. According to a new report from The Information, at least some models in the upcoming iPhone 18 series — including the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max — may support full 5G satellite internet (via MacRumors).
The report claims Apple plans to add support for 5G networks “that aren’t tethered to Earth’s surface” as early as next year, enabling iPhones to access the internet at blistering speeds directly via satellite. If true, it would make the iPhone 18 Pro lineup — and possibly Apple’s first foldable iPhone, expected to debut alongside it — the first smartphones capable of achieving full satellite-based 5G connectivity.
That launch timeline lines up with earlier reports suggesting Apple plans to shake up its iPhone release cycle with the iPhone 18 series. The Pro models and the foldable are expected to launch during Apple’s usual September event in 2026, with the standard iPhone 18 said to be delayed until spring 2027, alongside a new entry-level iPhone 18e.
Apple’s current satellite features, introduced with the iPhone 14 series in 2022, are limited to Emergency SOS, Find My, Messages, and Roadside Assistance. They rely on a partnership with Globalstar, while telecom operators like T-Mobile have teamed up with SpaceX’s Starlink for satellite-based text and limited data functions. In Canada, Rogers has been testing a Starlink-powered offering similar to T-Mobile’s “T-Satellite”.
SpaceX is already working on a next-generation Starlink Direct to Cell satellite constellation that aims to deliver 4G LTE-level speeds to regular smartphones, and the company recently signed a $17 billion deal with EchoStar to secure wireless spectrum for its cellular satellite ambitions.
The new report also outlines several signs that a future Apple–SpaceX partnership could be back on the table, despite a rocky history between Elon Musk and Apple. SpaceX has recently added support for the same radio spectrum Apple uses for satellite communications, while Globalstar — Apple’s current partner — has informed investors of the loss of a major customer and is reportedly exploring a sale valued at over $10 billion.
The iPhone 18 Pro is also rumoured to debut under-display Face ID, removing the Dynamic Island entirely. Combined with potential 5G satellite internet support, the Pro lineup could mark one of the biggest design and connectivity overhauls in iPhone history.
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Brave new world, it won't be much longer where cell towers can finally be dismantled.
…what happens if the SATELLITES go down, after Red China blows 'em up? In fact even the elimination of telephone land lines is a mistake!