Tech giant Apple is shaking up its release schedule and preparing to launch three new phones in early 2027. This spring lineup will reportedly include the standard iPhone 18, the budget friendly iPhone 18e, and the redesigned iPhone Air 2. While the fall event focused on the Pro versions, this upcoming release targets mainstream buyers. A fresh leak now gives us a look at what hardware changes we can expect from these delayed devices.
Budget models share the same large displays and battery sizes
According to the latest details from Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, the gap between the base model and the budget version is closing. The leaked specs suggest that both the standard phone and the 18e will feature matching 6.3-inch screens. This marks a shift for the economy tier, which will likely adopt the Dynamic Island instead of the older notch design.
Power users also get good news regarding daily usage. The report indicates both of these upcoming smartphones will house an identical 4430mAh battery cell. Having the same battery capacity in both the standard phone and the cheaper variant is a surprising move that gives buyers more value. In fact, a recent report highlighted how the base model might even pack a larger battery compared to the premium Pro lineup.
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Camera hardware remains the main difference between the two phones
While the screens and batteries match up, the camera system is where the company draws a firm line. If you care about photography, you will need to pay attention to the specific lens setups.
Here are the most important leaked camera and hardware details:
- The main camera on the standard 18 will stay at 48 megapixels but use a slightly smaller physical sensor.
- The ultra wide camera lens will be entirely exclusive to the base model.
- The entry level iPhone 18e will stick to a single camera on the back.
- Both devices are expected to run on the next generation 2nm A20 chip.
These differences show that the standard iPhone remains the better choice for content creators who need flexible shooting options. The budget option drops the extra lens to keep costs low, though it keeps the core performance and screen size intact. This split launch strategy gives buyers more distinct choices when the spring release window finally arrives.
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