Splitting the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and the cheaper iPhone 18 models may have been about more than giving extra space for the foldable iPhone Duo to shine. According to a new report, the iPhone 18e may come with a battery to put even the 18 Pro to shame, and an attention-grabbing display upgrade that could explain the delay.
The iPhone 18e battery could be larger than the iPhone 18 Pro’s
Apple may use a surprisingly large 4,430 mAh battery for the budget iPhone 18e, which is expected to launch next spring. According to a post published by leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo, the budget model and the vanilla iPhone 18 will share some parts, including the big battery.
The leaker has shared the same diagram that has been circulating from other sources, confirming that the information in it matches what their sources have been telling them. This diagram also confirms the earlier rumors that the iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e will use some interchangeable parts, with the battery being one of those.
Another part is the display, which is rumored to have a 6.3-inch panel on both models. This goes contrary to earlier rumors that suggested the iPhone 18e would keep the 6.12-inch screen with 60Hz refresh rate. Still, there’s no further information about the refresh rate of the display on the iPhone 18e.
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What would make you consider buying an iPhone 18e?
How much bigger will the batteries in the iPhone 18e and iPhone 18 be than the 18 Pro?
iPhone 18 Pro. | Image by PhoneArena
Compared to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e, the new models will have some significant battery improvements thanks to the 4,430 mAh capacity. In the case of the iPhone 18, the growth from 3,692 mAh will be a whopping 21%, while the iPhone 18e’s jump from 4,005 mAh will be a relatively modest 11%.
The comparison with the iPhone 18 Pro is not as mind-blowing, but it’s still good news for anyone who’s planning to get a budget iPhone next year. The smaller iPhone 18 Pro has a 4,288 mAh battery in the eSIM version sold in the US, while the nanoSIM version comes with a 4,056 mAh cell.
Of course, this change doesn’t necessarily mean that the actual battery life of the iPhone 18e will beat that of the iPhone 18 Pro. On the other hand, the 18e is rumored to come with the 2nm A20 processor, which could be just as power efficient as the A20 Pro inside the 18 Pro models. We’ll need to wait until we get the chance to test the real-life performance ourselves before jumping to conclusions, but chances are that the cheaper model will offer slightly better performance.
This could turn out exactly what some Apple fans are looking for in their next phone. While some users on Reddit expressed their worries about the price increases that may be introduced with the new phones, several users mentioned they’d get it on pre-order if the battery rumor turns out to be true.
The iPhone 18e could challenge even the Pro iPhones. | Image by Reddit (screenshot
How will the iPhone 18e compare to the vanilla iPhone 18?
The iPhone 17 and 17e had quite a few differences. | Image by PhoneArena
With the iPhone 18e and iPhone 18 getting some interchangeable parts, it is only natural for a potential buyer to ask themselves what would be lost with the cheaper model. While the battery and the screen size will be the same, most of the other key features are likely to be different.
Besides the smoother 120Hz display, the iPhone 18 is also expected to have an ultra-wide camera on the back and a better selfie camera. It’s very likely that the 18e will have a version of the A20 chipset with fewer GPU cores and a slower charger. It’s also unclear whether the Camera Control button and the Dynamic Island will make their way to the cheaper model.
The success of the iPhone 18e depends on the price
Even if Apple has another price hike for the iPhone 18e and launches it at $799, I think it could feel like a great deal in comparison to a $999 iPhone 18 and even the $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro. Of course, if Apple manages to pull off some magic and launch it at the same $699 it sells the 17e right now, this could be the box office hit of 2027.
Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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