iPhone 18e release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades
iPhone 17e for reference. | Image by PhoneArena
What's expected to change vs iPhone 17e:
- New A20 chip with performance comparable to that of the upcoming iPhone 18
- Design similar to last year's model
- Dynamic Island might replace the notch of the previous model
- Display refresh rate may remain at 60 Hz
- C2 modem for improved connectivity and efficiency
- iOS 27 with Siri AI and Apple Intelligence integration in apps
Expected release timeline:
- Apple may announce the iPhone 18e together with the base iPhone 18 in spring 2027.
Expected price:
- No price leaks are out just yet, but price hikes are possible.
- The current iPhone 17e starts at $599 for 256 GB of storage.
Jump to:
iPhone 18e release date
Apple is reportedly shaking up its release strategy for the iPhone 18 lineup, potentially launching the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro in the fall, while the base iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e may arrive in spring 2027.
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18e | Spring 2027* | Spring 2027* |
| iPhone 17e | March 2, 2026 | March 11, 2026 |
| iPhone 16e | February 19, 2025 | February 28, 2025 |
* - probable dates
A spring release for Apple's next mid-range phone fits well with Apple's usual pattern. What's new this time is that the standard iPhone 18 may launch alongside the e-branded model rather than separately.
iPhone 18e price and deals
Pricing for the iPhone 18e hasn't leaked yet. However, Tim Cook recently claimed Apple can no longer fully protect its customers from price increases. While Cook wasn't referring to the iPhone 18e specifically, his statement set the expectations that price hikes across the entire iPhone lineup seem inevitable, so the iPhone 18e will probably be unable to retain it's $599 starting price.
| iPhone model | 128GB of storage | 256GB of storage | 512GB of storage | 1TB of storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18e | - | $599 or more* | $799 or more* | - |
| iPhone 17e | - | $599 | $799 | - |
| iPhone 16e | $599 | $699 | $899 | - |
*- anticipated prices
Several companies, including Samsung, have already raised prices due to a memory chip shortage driven by AI computing demand.
iPhone 18e deals to expect:
- Apple: Apple usually offers good trade-in discounts for new phones, depending on the device you trade in, its model and condition.
- AT&T: Expect AT&T to offer the phone for $0 or at a steep discount spread over 36 months with a new line on an eligible unlimited plan, no trade-in required.
- Verizon: Verizon will likely offer the device fully covered via 36 monthly bill credits when you activate a new line on a select unlimited plan – sometimes bundled with a free tablet or smartwatch.
- T-Mobile: Expect T-Mobile to offer the phone free with a 24-month installment plan if you switch and port in your number, or via an "any condition" trade-in on their premium unlimited plans.
iPhone 18e camera
Leaks haven't given us details on the iPhone 18e's camera system yet. That said, don't expect huge upgrades over the iPhone 17e's – its camera is already quite capable for a mid-range iPhone.
iPhone 18e expected camera setup:
- 48 MP Fusion camera
- 12 MP front
For reference, the iPhone 17e's 48 MP Fusion camera offers 2x "optical quality" telephoto and an upgraded portrait mode with new image processing. Expect some software tricks to boost photo quality on the iPhone 18e, but don't count on a major overhaul or an extra lens.
iPhone 18e storage
The iPhone 18e is expected to start at 256GB, with a 512GB option for anyone needing more space. A 1TB tier looks unlikely.
iPhone 18e rumored storage capacity:
- 256 GB
- 512 GB
iPhone 18e design
The iPhone 18e's design hasn't leaked yet. But Apple has stayed remarkably consistent with its design language over the years, so expect the classic iPhone look to carry over.
One likely change this time is the addition of Dynamic Island on the e-branded model, replacing the notch. The same was rumored for the iPhone 17e (and unfortunately never materialized), but it's more likely to land with the iPhone 18e.
The iPhone 17e for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
Apart from that, the iPhone 18e is expected to resemble its predecessor, potentially keeping the same dimensions (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm) and lightweight build (just 169 g). Expect an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
The 17e's 3x-improved scratch-resistant coating should carry over too. MagSafe, introduced on the iPhone 17e, is also likely returning for the 18e.
iPhone 18e display
Currently, the iPhone 18e is expected to keep the 60Hz refresh rate and the compact 6.1-inch display.
| iPhone model | Screen size | Brightness |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18e | 6.1 inches* | 1,200* |
| iPhone 17e | 6.1 inches | 1,200 |
* - anticipated sizes
iPhone 18e battery
Apple likely isn't making major changes to the iPhone 18e's battery. The company hasn't adopted silicon-carbon tech yet and isn't expected to anytime soon.
So, expect "all-day" battery life from the iPhone 18e (I'll give you a reference down below). The phone will likely pack a 2nm A20 chip and Apple's C2 connectivity modem, both of which should be more power-efficient and help battery life overall.
As for charging, MagSafe should return next year as well. The iPhone 17e supports 15W wireless charging, and its successor will likely match that.
For reference, the iPhone 17e's battery life is genuinely good – roughly on par with the standard iPhone 17's. In our battery tests, the phone lasted 15h 30min of continuous browsing on a single charge, and held up for 9h 7min during video playback.
Gaming endurance came in at 11h 18min – solid numbers overall.
iPhone 18e features and software
The iPhone 18e will likely ship with iOS 27 out of the box.
Apple has now unveiled iOS 27 and Siri AI during WWDC 2026. Siri finally gets its long-awaited context awareness update. The update brings a standalone Siri app and gives the assistant the ability to see what's on your screen, process natural language, and take actions within apps.
Apple Intelligence features at a glance. | Image by Apple
Apple Intelligence is rolling out across apps system-wide in iOS 27. Apps like Photos, Messages, Mail, and Shortcuts are all getting Apple Intelligence-powered upgrades, and Image Playground is getting noticeably smarter too.
The iPhone 18e will likely support Apple Intelligence, since the iPhone 17e already does.
Meanwhile, is also introducing a new CPU scheduler, designed to keep older or less powerful phones running smoothly, which should also help the iPhone 18e.
iPhone 18e hardware and specs
The iPhone 18e is expected to feature Apple's 2nm A20 chip. To be clear, that's not the A20 Pro likely powering the iPhone 18 Pro, but the less powerful – though still capable – A20, which the standard iPhone 18 will likely share.
iPhone 18e's expected specs:
- CPU: A20
- RAM: 8 GB
- Battery: around 4,000 mAh
- Charging: 20 wired, 15 wireless
- Storage: 256, 512 GB
- Camera setup: 48 MP main, 12 MP selfie
As for RAM, the iPhone 18e probably won't stick with its predecessor's 8GB. Rumor has it the entire iPhone 18 lineup may bump up to 12GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence, though realistically, the iPhone 18e may not get quite that much.
Meanwhile, the A20 chip shared between the iPhone 18e and iPhone 18 is said to come with the same number of GPU cores this time around.
Should I wait for the iPhone 18e?
- You should wait for the iPhone 18e if you're still on an older budget device or a seriously outdated iPhone. By holding out until the spring 2027 launch, you'll finally trade the old notch for the modern Dynamic Island, bringing your phone visually in line with Apple's premium lineup. Under the hood, you'll get a major performance leap from the ultra-efficient 2nm A20 chip – flagship-level speed and better battery efficiency without flagship pricing.
- You should not wait for the iPhone 18e if you're already on an iPhone 17e or another recent iPhone. Differences between the 18e and 17e aren't expected to be major, and newer iPhones are generally already fast enough for most people's needs. You also shouldn't wait if your current phone is on its way out – the recently released iPhone 17e already covers the essentials of a modern Apple experience. You're better off grabbing an iPhone 17e now, or hunting for an immediate carrier deal, rather than waiting until next spring for incremental changes.
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