The iPhone 17e has a 60Hz display. The successor is expected to stick to the same refresh rate and skip the ProMotion treatment. | Image by PhoneArena
The iPhone 18e will be sticking to the old and slow 60Hz display refresh rate, according to the latest rumor, reported by Android Headlines. The successor to the quite successful iPhone 17e won't be adding ProMotion to the list of specs next year.
The iPhone 18e rumored to get a 60Hz display once again
The rumor comes from our good old tipster, Digital Chat Station, who mainly lives in the Weibo space. The latest post details some of the specs of the upcoming iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, iPhone Air 2 and even the iPhone 19 and iPhone Ultra 2 specs.
The rumor details the screen specs of a bunch of upcoming iPhone models. | Image by Weibo
As you can see in the screenshot above, we're getting the same 6.1-inch OLED screen as the one found on the iPhone 17e and, most importantly, the same 60Hz display refresh rate. That's very disappointing, as even the cheapest Galaxy phones, such as the Galaxy A17, for example, feature at least 90Hz displays.
The iPhone Air 2 will have a 6.55-inch LTPO OLED with ProMotion and 1.5K resolution, similar to the first iPhone Air. The iPhone 18 is also mentioned in the rumor, sporting a 6.3-inch,120Hz LTPO OLED with the same 1.5K resolution. Then it gets really interesting because we have some info regarding the next generation iPhones, including the second Apple foldable.
Recommended For You
Would you buy a smartphone with a 60Hz display in 2027?
The iPhone Ultra 2 screen is being tested
The screen of the iPhone Ultra 2 is already being tested, according to the latest rumor. | Image by Ben Geskin
Digital Chat Station mentions another two iPhone models in the post, the iPhone 19 Pro and the iPhone Ultra 2. The former will probably be called the iPhone 20 Pro, as we expect Apple to skip one number and launch the iPhone 20 series in line with the 20th anniversary of the iPhone.
Translation from Chinese could be tricky, and in the case of the iPhone 19 Pro, it reads "molded and tested."
This could mean the dimensions of the phone have been finalized and dummies in the form of molds are being produced as we type this. The same goes for the iPhone Ultra 2, only this time the screen is also mentioned as being "molded and tested."
When will the iPhone 18e launch?
That's almost certainly next year. Given the iPhone 17e was officially unveiled this March, we don't have a reason to suspect an earlier release for the iPhone 18e. For what it's worth, we could see a delay as the current RAM and storage crisis has put smartphone schedules and prices in shambles.
According to the latest rumors, Apple is splitting the launch of the iPhone 18 series. The vanilla model will be coming in March 2027, most likely alongside the aforementioned iPhone 18e, while the company will be pushing to launch the Pro models and the Ultra in its normal window this September.
Would anyone buy a 60Hz iPhone in 2027?
Even the $199 Galaxy A17 features a 90Hz screen. | Image by PhoneArena
That's a big question and a big gamble for Apple. I was quite skeptical about the iPhone 17e launching with a 60Hz display, but the model has been one of the top sellers in the past couple of months.
Apple might still be pushing it too far with a 2027 phone sporting a 60Hz display, but we'll have to wait and see. The iPhone 18e is expected to get the latest A20 silicon, as well as 9GB of RAM, a slight bump from the 8GB on the previous model. We could also see a substantial price hike, as the RAM and storage crisis rages on.
What do you think about this news? Would you still buy a 60Hz phone in 2027? Even if it's an iPhone? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments below. For me, personally, it's a big no-no. The ProMotion upgrade should come to the iPhone e!
Get Visible as low as $20/mo for 1 year. Limited time offer with code: FRESHSTART
$20
/mo
$25
$5 off (20%)
Offer Ends 6.1.2026 at 11.59pm ET. New members get $5/mo off the $25/mg Visible plan, $35/mo Visible+ plan, or $45/mo Visible+ Pro plan for the first 12 months. Promo code FRESHSTART required at checkout.
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: