Hidden references inside iOS 27 beta 5 appear to confirm Apple’s plans for six unreleased iPhone models, including the entire iPhone 18 family, a second-generation iPhone Air, and the company’s first foldable device.
Macworld discovered the references in system files related to battery drivers and Battery Intelligence features. Alongside existing iPhone models, the beta explicitly lists six unreleased devices mapped to internal codenames.
- iOS 27 beta 5 contains hidden code referencing six unreleased iPhone models
- The list includes iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, iPhone Air 2, and iPhone Ultra
- References were found in battery driver and Battery Intelligence system files
- The same codenames appeared in a leaked early iOS 26 build in December 2025
- Earlier iOS 27 betas revealed foldable display support and dual-battery references
- Apple is expected to split the launch, with Pro models and foldable iPhone Ultra this fall and the rest in spring 2027
The codenames and their corresponding products, according to Macworld, are V62 for iPhone Air 2, V63 for iPhone 18 Pro, V64 for iPhone 18 Pro Max, V67 for iPhone 18, V68 for iPhone Ultra, and V69 for iPhone 18e.
These internal identifiers are not new. The same six codenames surfaced in December 2025 when an early internal build of iOS 26 was obtained and analyzed by MacRumors and Macworld. That software predated Apple’s reported decision to delay several models, yet it already contained references to the full iPhone 18 lineup, the second-generation Air, and the foldable Ultra. The consistency between the two leaks, separated by eight months and different iOS versions, suggests the codenames have remained stable as the devices moved through development.
The presence of the references inside battery-related components is consistent with how Apple prepares iOS for new hardware. Each device requires specific power-management profiles, and Apple typically embeds support for upcoming models in beta software well ahead of launch so engineers can validate battery behavior and charging algorithms across the full range of configurations.
Earlier iOS 27 betas have already hinted at the hardware to come. The first developer beta, released in June, contained framework references to foldState and angleDegrees, terms that describe hinge position and folding behavior. A subsequent beta in July added Battery Health strings written in the plural, explicitly referring to the batteries in this iPhone and one of the batteries, wording that only makes sense for a device with more than one cell. No current iPhone uses either a foldable display or multiple batteries.
The discovery arrives as reports from multiple outlets have converged on a split launch strategy. According to Bloomberg, The Information, and supply chain commentary from Largan Precision chairman Lin En-ping, Apple plans to release the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone Ultra this fall, while the standard iPhone 18, the budget iPhone 18e, and the iPhone Air 2 are expected to follow in spring 2027.
If that schedule holds, it would mark the first time since 2011 that Apple has deliberately separated its standard and Pro iPhone launches by more than a few weeks. The company has used spring windows for budget models like the iPhone 16e and 17e, but never for a full standard-generation flagship. The staggered approach is widely reported to be a structural shift rather than a one-time delay, designed to spread manufacturing load and maintain sales momentum across the calendar year as the iPhone lineup expands from four or five models to six.
For users, the split means anyone waiting for a standard iPhone 18 or the next budget model will not have a new option this fall. The fall lineup would instead consist of premium devices, with the foldable iPhone Ultra widely expected to carry a price tag between $2,000 and $2,500 based on analyst estimates.
Apple released iOS 27 beta 5 to developers on August 10, following a one-week delay. The update is expected to be among the last before the software reaches general availability in mid-September, likely coinciding with the company’s fall hardware event.
Apple has not announced any of the six devices, and software references in beta code do not guarantee release timelines or final product names.