Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18e could bring two significant upgrades: a faster A20 chip and a potentially improved selfie camera. However, the same leak suggests the budget-friendly iPhone may retain its 60Hz display and single rear camera.
A recent Weibo post from leaker Digital Chat Station shared early details about Apple’s next entry-level iPhone, expected in spring 2027 alongside the rumored iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2. Apple has not officially confirmed the device or its specifications.
iPhone 18e could feature Apple’s A20 chip
One of the biggest rumored upgrades is Apple’s A20 processor. The iPhone 18e could move from the iPhone 17e’s 3nm A19 chip to the next-generation A20, potentially bringing it in line with the upcoming standard iPhone 18.
The A20 is expected to use a 2-nanometer manufacturing process. So far, the A20 family has only appeared as the A20 Pro in the iPhone 18 Pro models, so it would be a significant performance leap for Apple’s budget iPhone if accurate.
Front camera upgrade could improve selfies
The leak also points to a possible front-camera upgrade. The iPhone 18e could feature a 24-megapixel selfie camera, compared with the 12-megapixel camera on the iPhone 17e.
A higher-resolution camera could capture more detail in selfies and offer greater flexibility when cropping photos. However, it’s unclear whether the leaker is referring to a new sensor or mistakenly to the 18MP Center Stage camera used in the iPhone 17 lineup. Either way, it would be an upgrade over the iPhone 17e.
60Hz display and single rear camera may remain
Despite these potential improvements, the iPhone 18e could retain a 6.12-inch OLED display with LTPS technology and a 60Hz refresh rate.
This means users may not get the smoother scrolling and animations available on iPhones with 120Hz ProMotion displays. The phone is also expected to keep a single 48-megapixel rear camera and other specs similar to its predecessor. Separately, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that the iPhone 18e could get 9GB of RAM, up from 8GB on the iPhone 17e.
iPhone 18e release date: What to expect
Apple could launch the iPhone 18e in spring 2027 as part of its reportedly revised iPhone release schedule. There is no official information on pricing or the release date yet.
With memory and storage prices rising, Apple may need to balance hardware improvements against production costs. Since the iPhone 18e is intended to remain a budget-friendly option, Apple could limit upgrades compared with a typical yearly refresh to keep the price competitive.
For now, all specifications and release details remain unconfirmed until Apple makes an official announcement.
