Apple is changing its release schedule for the upcoming generation of smartphones. Recent reports suggest the company will delay its new devices to a spring 2027 window rather than sticking to the usual fall timeline. Fans expecting a major iPhone hardware jump might see some surprising choices when these units finally hit shelves.
A new leak reveals that the base model and the budget version will share the same processor to save money.
The company removes chip differences to lower its production costs
Past models had clear boundaries. Relative to the standard iPhone 17, the iPhone 17e offers a smaller 6.1-inch display with a lower refresh rate, no Dynamic Island, no Camera Control, and just one rear camera. Both older phones offer the A19 chip, but the iPhone 17e has one fewer GPU core.
That strategy is changing for the iPhone 18 lineup. According to Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, the firm will downgrade the standard model processor so it matches the cheaper 18e version perfectly.
The two devices will have the same GPU core count because the manufacturer is skipping chip binning. This cost-cutting move means overall performance between the two units will be very similar.
Shared chips make the premium pro models look much better
Even with identical processing hardware, the standard model will still keep a few exclusive perks. Features like ProMotion, Camera Control, and the Dynamic Island will remain core selling points to convince buyers to upgrade from the budget tier.
By putting the same chip inside both lower-tier phones, the brand is likely trying to widen the performance gap between these units and its premium models.
This decision means the processing hardware inside the Pro and Pro Max versions will appear far more impressive. It gives shoppers a much clearer reason to spend extra money on the highest-end devices.
