The iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are expected in spring 2027. Here’s the latest on their rumored release date, A20 chip, RAM, cameras, display and price.
For years, Apple has followed a predictable iPhone launch schedule, introducing new iPhones in September – the standard model and the Pro model. In the spring, Apple often releases a less expensive phone – previously the “SE” iPhones and, more recently, the “e” series.
That could change with the iPhone 18 generation. This year, the most reliable rumors suggest Apple will introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in the fall, along with a more expensive iPhone Ultra folding phone, but the iPhone 18 might not join them until later.
So what can we expect from the iPhone 18 and 18e? Rumors are pretty thin right now, in part because most of the exciting new stuff will come with the Pro and folding iPhone models in the fall of 2026.
Below is a log of what we’ve heard so far about the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, based on the most recent and reliable rumors, analyst reports, and leaks, along with historical precedent.
iPhone 18 vs 18e rumors at a glance
| iPhone 18 | iPhone 18e | |
|---|---|---|
| Expected release | Spring 2027 | Spring 2027 |
| Expected price | $849-$899 | $649-$699 |
| Display size | 6.3 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Refresh rate | Up to 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Display cutout | Dynamic Island; possibly smaller | Notch or possibly Dynamic Island |
| Processor | A20, expected 2nm | A20, expected 2nm |
| RAM | 9GB or 12GB | 9GB most likely |
| Rear cameras | Two 48MP cameras expected | Single 48MP Main expected |
| Front camera | Rumored 24MP | Rumored 12MP |
| Camera Control | Yes, possibly simplified | Not expected |
| Cellular modem | Apple C2 expected | Apple C2 expected |
| Wi-Fi/Bluetooth | Likely N1 | Likely N1 |
| Design | Similar to iPhone 17, unless replaced by Air-style design | Similar to iPhone 17e |
| Biggest uncertainty | Could potentially be replaced/reimagined as Air 2 | Whether it gains Dynamic Island |
Is Apple launching the iPhone 18 in September?
No. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and foldable iPhone at its September 9 event, but hold the standard iPhone 18 until spring 2027.
The new split-release strategy should make Apple’s increasingly large iPhone lineup easier to manufacture, while giving its premium models the spotlight during the crucial fall launch period.
It would also create a second major iPhone launch window in spring, when the iPhone 18 is expected to arrive alongside the iPhone 18e and Air 2. There is a separate rumor that the Air 2 could effectively become the iPhone 18, but that claim remains fairly speculative at this stage.
When will the iPhone 18 and 18e release?
- iPhone 18: Expected in spring 2027 with an A20 chip, improved RAM and cameras, the iPhone 18 could even disappear entirely if Apple turns the thinner dual-camera Air 2 into its standard iPhone.
- iPhone 18e: The iPhone 18e is expected in spring 2027 with an A20 chip, 9GB RAM, C2 modem and 48MP camera, while retaining a cheaper 60Hz display and possibly gaining Dynamic Island.
While Apple has launched its standard and high-end iPhone models together ever since the first Pro phone arrived in 2019, this year looks to be different. While the Pro phones will launch in September 2026, all the evidence indicates Apple will push the iPhone 18 launch to the spring of 2027, leaving it on shelves for a full 18 months for the first time.
So if you bought an iPhone 17 at launch and are looking to upgrade, you’ll either need to spring for an iPhone 18 Pro or wait until March or April when Apple may hold a second iPhone event or at least launch the new iPhones via press release.
We also expect Apple to release the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 at the same time – although there is a rumor that the iPhone 18 might actually be the iPhone Air 2.
“Early Apple” published a claim on X that Apple is “exploring the idea” of calling what is essentially the iPhone Air 2 the iPhone 18 rather than launching a third device. In July Jon Prosser made a similar suggestion in a FTP video that Apple could eventually streamline the lineup around the iPhone, iPhone Pro and iPhone Ultra, with the Air serving as a stepping stone toward that strategy..
What specs will the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e have?
- A20 processor
- 9GB to 12GB RAM
- C2 modem
While the iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra will almost certainly use the new A20 Pro chip, the iPhone 18 and 18e are expected to use the standard A20. Like the Pro version, it should be manufactured by TSMC using a 2nm process.
Based on the A19, we expect the A20 to retain a 6-core CPU while delivering improved performance and efficiency. The GPU will probably have five cores, although Apple could disable one core in the iPhone 18e. One of the biggest gains may come from the Neural Engine, as Apple continues to put more emphasis on on-device AI processing.
The standard iPhone 18 is also expected to get more RAM, up from the iPhone 17’s 8GB. Analyst Jeff Pu predicts a substantial increase to 12GB, matching the current iPhone 17 Pro, while Ming-Chi Kuo expects the iPhone 18 and 18e to use an unusual 9GB configuration made up of six 1.5GB memory chips. Macworld considers 9GB slightly more plausible given the global memory shortage and rising component costs.
More RAM would primarily benefit multitasking and AI. Both memory capacity and bandwidth are important when running advanced AI models on-device, so Apple has good reason to increase RAM across the range. However, if the iPhone 18 and 18e are limited to 9GB while the Pro models get 12GB, they could have less headroom for increasingly demanding Apple Intelligence features in future iOS releases. That could eventually mean some features are reduced or unavailable on the cheaper models.
Elsewhere, the iPhone 18 and 18e are expected to adopt Apple’s upcoming C2 cellular modem. It isn’t yet clear whether the C2 will support mmWave in the U.S., but improvements to 5G performance and power efficiency are likely, along with the potential for expanded satellite connectivity. For Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, Apple may have little reason to move beyond the N1 chip, which already supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Will the iPhone 18 and 18e’s cameras be improved?
David Price / Foundry
- 24MP selfie camera on iPhone 18
- iPhone 18e may retain a 12MP selfie camera
- 48MP Main cameras expected
- Revised Camera Control button on iPhone 18
The iPhone 18 could get another front-camera upgrade. Apple introduced an 18MP Center Stage camera with the iPhone 17 generation, but reports now suggest the standard iPhone 18 will move to a 24MP selfie camera. That should potentially deliver more detail and give Apple more resolution to work with for cropping and computational photography.
The rumor that the iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 could be one and the same may mean that the iPhone Air gets a second rear camera.
The situation with the iPhone 18e is less clear. While some rumors have suggested that 24MP cameras could spread across the wider iPhone 18 family, a November 2025 J.P. Morgan report said the lower-cost iPhone 18e will retain a 12MP front camera. For now, we wouldn’t assume that the 18e will get the same selfie-camera upgrade as the iPhone 18.
There has been much less information about the rear cameras. The current iPhone 17 has 48MP Main and 48MP Ultra Wide cameras, while the iPhone 17e has a single 48MP Main camera. We therefore expect the iPhone 18 to retain two 48MP rear cameras and the iPhone 18e to continue with a single 48MP Main camera, although there haven’t yet been reliable reports of major sensor upgrades for either model.
Apple may also simplify Camera Control. According to Weibo leaker Instant Digital, the iPhone 18’s button will retain pressure sensitivity but drop the capacitive sensing used by current models, potentially reducing complexity and cost. The iPhone 18e isn’t expected to gain Camera Control.
Will the iPhone 18e get a display upgrade?
David Price / Foundry
The iPhone 18 is likely to use a display similar to the iPhone 17, with up to 1,000 nits of typical SDR brightness, 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness, and up to 3,000 nits outdoors.
The iPhone 18e could get a more noticeable upgrade, although reports remain inconsistent. The current iPhone 17e uses an older display with relatively modest brightness and a notch rather than Dynamic Island. Some reports suggest the iPhone 18e will finally move to a newer panel with Dynamic Island, potentially bringing it closer to the iPhone 15, which offered up to 2,000 nits of outdoor brightness. However, the Dynamic Island upgrade remains disputed.
What does appear more likely is that Apple will continue to limit the 18e to a 60Hz display. According to Digital Chat Station, the phone will retain a 60Hz LTPS OLED panel rather than adopting the LTPO technology used for ProMotion. That would mean no 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate or Always-On display, even as those features become more widespread elsewhere in the iPhone lineup.
How much will the iPhone 18 and 18e cost?
Everything in the world of tech has gotten more expensive, thanks to chip shortages spurred on by an endless need to build more, bigger AI data centers. Apple in June raised its prices for nearly all Macs and iPads, and even aging hardware like HomePod and Apple TV. iPhone was spared, but we predict the new iPhones arriving on September 9 will carry prices at least $50-100 higher than they have in the past. And that’s likely to carry forward to the spring releases, too.
Our estimation there for is that the iPhone 18 could start at $849 or $899, and the iPhone 18e could start at $649 or $699. However, as these are Apple’s budget models, it’s possible that Apple raises prices on the Pro models but keeps the iPhone 18 and 18e at their current levels, it’s also possible that Apple could raise prices of the iPhone 17 and 17e before they are replaced.
Should you wait for iPhone 18?
If you want the Pro models: The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be available later in 2026. But be prepared for higher prices.
If you want a standard or budget iPhone the wait for the iPhone 18 is longer. In the meantime, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e remain excellent choices.
If you want to save money, the iPhone 17 starts at $799/£799 with 256GB of storage, making it one of the best values in the lineup.
