A new rumor from China claims that Apple plans to begin testing iPhone 18 series devices on its mass production lines in early January.
According to the report, Apple will test the devices one after another during the first days of the month. Full production is then expected to start shortly before the Chinese New Year, which falls on February 17 in 2026.
The rumor also states that the iPhone 18 Pro production line has already been set up. However, the device itself is not expected to feature major external design changes, contrary to widespread speculation.
It remains unclear why Apple would move production activities so far forward if the company is still targeting a September launch. No clear explanation was provided for the early timeline, making the report difficult to verify.
As a result, the information should be treated cautiously, as the timing and rationale behind the alleged production schedule remain uncertain.