iPhone 18e Leaks: 5 Huge Upgrades (and 1 Major Compromise) Coming in 2027
While our previous coverage of the iPhone 18e focused heavily on its powerful 2nm A20 chip, a fresh wave of supply chain intelligence has just surfaced, painting a much more complete picture of Apple's upcoming budget device. Scheduled for a Spring 2027 release, the iPhone 18e isn't just getting a processor bump; it is receiving a massive physical and hardware redesign that brings it visually in line with Apple's premium flagship models.
If you are planning to upgrade next year but don't want to spend over a thousand dollars on the iPhone 18 Pro, this $599 device is looking increasingly attractive. However, Apple always makes sure to leave one major feature out of its budget phones to push power users toward the Pro tier.
Here are the five massive upgrades coming to the iPhone 18e, and the one major display compromise you need to know about before you buy.
The 5 Huge iPhone 18e Upgrades
Apple is finally trickling down some of its best premium features to the essential "e" tier. According to recent supply chain reports, the iPhone 18e will feature the following major hardware changes:
- The Arrival of the Dynamic Island: After years of holding onto the traditional display notch, the iPhone 18e is tipped to finally receive the Dynamic Island. This interactive pill-shaped cutout will make the 18e visually indistinguishable from standard mainline iPhones.
- A 24MP Selfie Camera: While the rear camera is expected to remain a 48MP sensor, the front-facing camera is reportedly getting a massive resolution bump. The iPhone 18e is expected to double its front resolution from 12MP to a crisp 24MP, ensuring vastly superior FaceTime calls and detailed selfies.
- Apple's Custom C2 Modem: Connectivity is getting a major overhaul. The iPhone 18e will reportedly drop third-party modems in favor of Apple's in-house C2 modem. This custom networking silicon is designed to deliver stronger cellular signal performance while significantly improving battery efficiency.
- 9GB of RAM for Siri AI: To run the completely overhauled Siri AI and localized Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27, two independent analysts agree that Apple is bumping the memory from 8GB to 9GB. This ensures faster, on-device AI processing without relying heavily on cloud servers.
- 256GB Base Storage: The era of 128GB appears to be over. The iPhone 18e is expected to feature 256GB of storage as its standard base configuration, with a 512GB option available for heavy users.
The Dealbreaker? Sticking to a 60Hz Display
Despite all the premium additions, Apple is still drawing a hard line when it comes to screen fluidity. If you were hoping the iPhone 18e would finally adopt the buttery-smooth 120Hz ProMotion technology, you will be disappointed.
According to prominent leaker Digital Chat Station, the iPhone 18e will maintain the same 6.1-inch OLED panel found on its predecessor, meaning it will remain locked at a 60Hz refresh rate. While the screen will still be vibrant and capable of hitting roughly 1,200 nits of brightness, the lack of 120Hz scrolling remains a genuine compromise, especially when Android competitors in the $500 price bracket have offered 120Hz screens for years.
Spec Showdown: iPhone 18e vs iPhone 17e
To summarize exactly how much value Apple is packing into this $599 chassis, here is how the leaked iPhone 18e specs stack up against the current iPhone 17e:
| Feature | iPhone 17e (Current) | iPhone 18e (Leaked for Spring 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | A19 Chip | A20 Chip (2nm) |
| RAM | 8GB | 9GB |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 24MP |
| Display Cutout | Standard Notch | Dynamic Island |
| Modem | Qualcomm | Apple Custom C2 Modem |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
Swipe sideways to see all table columns →
- iPhone 17e (Current)
- A19 Chip
- iPhone 18e (Leaked for Spring 2027)
- A20 Chip (2nm)
- iPhone 17e (Current)
- 8GB
- iPhone 18e (Leaked for Spring 2027)
- 9GB
- iPhone 17e (Current)
- 12MP
- iPhone 18e (Leaked for Spring 2027)
- 24MP
- iPhone 17e (Current)
- Standard Notch
- iPhone 18e (Leaked for Spring 2027)
- Dynamic Island
- iPhone 17e (Current)
- Qualcomm
- iPhone 18e (Leaked for Spring 2027)
- Apple Custom C2 Modem
- iPhone 17e (Current)
- 60Hz
- iPhone 18e (Leaked for Spring 2027)
- 60Hz
If you can look past the 60Hz display, the iPhone 18e is shaping up to be an absolute steal when it launches in Spring 2027. It offers the exact same core processing power and iOS 27 AI features as the mainline series, wrapped in a modernized design. For those seeking current discounts while waiting for 2027, be sure to monitor our best phone deals in the USA hub.
