Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18e could bring modest upgrades over the iPhone 17e, according to a new leak. The source has shared more details about the upcoming budget iPhone on Weibo. Apple launched the iPhone 17e in March 2026. Therefore, the iPhone 18e could arrive in spring 2027, following the same release schedule. Previous reports also suggested that Apple might launch it alongside the iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2.
According to the source, the iPhone 18e will feature a 6.12-inch LTPS OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. This means Apple may continue to limit higher refresh rates to its more expensive iPhone models.
The device is also expected to use Apple’s A20 chipset, which will reportedly be built on a 2nm process. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously linked the same chip to the iPhone 18e. His earlier report also suggested that the phone could feature 9GB of RAM.
Camera upgrades appear limited, however. The iPhone 18e is tipped to feature a single 48MP rear camera, matching the main camera resolution of the iPhone 17e. The front camera could receive a more noticeable upgrade. According to the leak, Apple may replace the existing 12MP selfie camera with a 24MP sensor.
Overall, the iPhone 18e appears to offer incremental improvements rather than major changes. The new chipset and upgraded selfie camera could bring some benefits, but the display and rear camera specifications may remain largely unchanged.
Apple could still introduce other improvements, including a larger battery. However, no details about the battery capacity have emerged yet. More information should become available as the expected launch approaches.
