Apple's budget iPhone 18e will feature an A20 processor manufactured using a 2nm process, a 60Hz OLED display, and a 48MP main camera, according to a new leak. Meanwhile, the front-facing camera could receive a significant resolution upgrade. Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station shared the information on the social network Weibo.

Apple unveiled the iPhone 17e in March 2026, so a spring 2027 launch for the next model seems likely. Previous rumors suggested that the iPhone 18e could launch around the same time as the iPhone 18 and the second-generation iPhone Air. The company has not yet officially confirmed these details.

A next-generation processor, but an unchanged display

According to Digital Chat Station, the iPhone 18e will feature a 6.12-inch OLED display with LTPS technology and a 60Hz refresh rate. This means that even the next generation of Apple's affordable smartphone is unlikely to offer a higher-refresh-rate screen.

The main hardware upgrade could be the A20 chip, which is expected to be manufactured using a 2nm process. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously also reported that Apple plans to use this processor in the iPhone 18e. He predicts that the smartphone will come with 9GB of RAM, although this specification has not yet been confirmed.

A 48MP main camera and an upgraded front-facing camera

The leak suggests a mixed picture for camera upgrades. The main rear camera will retain its 48MP resolution, matching the current iPhone 17e. However, the front-facing camera's resolution could increase from 12MP to 24MP.

Doubling the megapixel count alone does not guarantee a proportional improvement in photo quality: optics, the sensor, and image processing also affect the results. The actual impact of the upgrade can therefore only be assessed once more specifications and independent tests become available.

Is the iPhone 18e worth waiting for?

If the tipster's information proves accurate, the iPhone 18e will be more of an evolutionary update than a major overhaul of the lineup. A more advanced processor and a potentially improved front-facing camera could be useful, but the display will remain at 60Hz, and the main camera's resolution will stay unchanged.

Much will depend on specifications that are still unknown, particularly battery capacity and potential improvements in battery life. Until the official announcement, all the specifications listed above should be treated as preliminary information from leaks.