The iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, both expected in the spring of 2027, could be the most alike base iPhone and cheaper model Apple has ever made. However, there will be one big difference between the two that will set them apart. Fixed Focus Digital, a leaker on the Chinese social network Weibo, shared an image of the specs and says several sources have verified the claims.
The iPhone 18e and iPhone 18 reportedly share the same battery and screen
Both phones are slated to get the same, bigger 4,430mAh battery and the same 6.3-inch display. The iPhone 18’s main camera is expected to get slightly smaller, but it will reportedly stay at 48MP. The one difference is the Ultra Wide camera, and according to the leak, it stays exclusive to the iPhone 18, while the iPhone 18e sticks with a single camera on the back.
This is not the first time that we’re hearing these details on the hardware changes. Earlier reports have suggested the same process to cut costs, as AI demand pushes memory prices up across the industry. Sharing the same battery is likely part of that plan, but it works in the favor of the customer. A bigger battery combined with the more efficient A20 chip should mean better battery life on both models.
The 6.3-inch screen could also mean the end of the notch. So my guess is that the iPhone 18e will get the Dynamic Island instead of the notch.
When the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are expected to launch
Both phones are expected to arrive in spring of 2027, and they won’t be alone. According to Mark Gurman, the iPhone Air 2 is also launching alongside the iPhone 18, which would make three new iPhones in a single season.
Apple skipped the base iPhone 18 at the September event, where it announced the iPhone 18 Pro models. The new launch strategy pushed buyers towards the more expensive and premium models and helped Apple take a record share of smartphone revenue in the third quarter.
If this leak holds, the iPhone 18e gives you nearly everything the iPhone 18 does for less money. Unless you really use the Ultra Wide camera, the iPhone 18e could be the smarter buy next spring. What do you think?
