Apple's next affordable iPhone could get the same processor as its more expensive siblings, but it may still miss out on a feature that has become common on many premium smartphones. The iPhone 18e, which is expected to arrive next year, is tipped to get Apple's next-generation A20 chip and a higher-resolution selfie camera.
However, its display could continue to operate at 60Hz.The latest information comes from tipster Digital Chat Station, who has shared details of the upcoming phone on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The leak suggests that Apple is not planning a major overhaul of its entry-level iPhone, with most of the expected changes centred around its internal hardware.No 120Hz upgrade yet?Apple may once again skip a high refresh rate display on its more affordable iPhone.
According to the leak, the iPhone 18e will have a 6.12-inch LTPS OLED panel with a 60Hz refresh rate. The screen is marginally larger than the 6.1-inch panel on the iPhone 17e, but the refresh rate remains the same.This means buyers looking for a smoother 120Hz experience may have to consider Apple's more expensive models.
The standard iPhone 18 is also tipped to get a 120Hz LTPO OLED display, while the iPhone Air 2 could feature a similar panel.One major upgrade The processor could be where the iPhone 18e gets its biggest improvement. Digital Chat Station claims Apple will equip the phone with the A20 chipset, which is expected to be manufactured using a 2nm process.
This would be a step ahead of the 3nm technology used for the current A19 chip. The smaller manufacturing process is expected to improve both processing performance and power efficiency.
In practical terms, this could mean a faster phone that also manages its battery consumption better.Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also previously linked the A20 chip to the iPhone 18e. Kuo has reportedly suggested that the phone could come with 9GB of RAM, although this detail has not been confirmed by the latest leak.Selfie camera may get twice the resolution The rear camera setup does not appear to be getting much attention this time.
The iPhone 18e is tipped to retain a single 48-megapixel camera at the back, just like the iPhone 17e. The front camera could tell a different story.
Apple may replace the existing 12-megapixel selfie camera with a 24-megapixel sensor. This would be a notable increase in resolution and could benefit users who frequently take selfies or make video calls.There is no word yet on whether Apple will introduce other camera improvements, including changes to image processing or video recording.When will Apple launch the iPhone 18e?The iPhone 18e is rumoured to arrive in spring 2027.
Apple introduced the iPhone 17e in March this year, and the company could follow a similar launch schedule for its successor. The phone is reportedly part of a three-device launch planned for spring next year.
Alongside the iPhone 18e, Apple could introduce the standard iPhone 18 and the second-generation iPhone Air. April 2027 is one possible launch window, though there is no official confirmation yet.- Ends