Apple’s September event is still months away, but that hasn’t stopped leakers from offering an early glimpse of what the next-generation iPhones might look like. The latest rumor suggests that the base iPhone 18 could share some components with its stripped-down counterpart, the iPhone 18e.
Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital shared this information on Weibo, claiming that the iPhone 18 and 18e use the same manufacturing process and may have some interchangeable components.
However, it remains unclear which components might be shared between the two models. Still, this aligns with previous rumors pointing to a potential downgrade for the iPhone 18, narrowing the hardware gap between it and the e-branded model. Fixed Focus Digital has previously suggested that Apple may scale back the iPhone 18’s display and processor as part of cost-cutting efforts, making it more similar to the iPhone 18e.
The impact of the RAM shortage and rising manufacturing costs has also hit Apple, and the company may have no choice but to downgrade certain aspects of the iPhone 18. However, from a business perspective, making the base iPhone 18 more similar to the iPhone 18e doesn’t seem entirely reasonable.
If recent rumors prove accurate, here’s how the upcoming iPhones could shape up: the base iPhone 18 is expected to launch with 12GB of RAM, as previously reported, and feature the A20 chip. Other anticipated specifications include a dual-rear-camera setup, a ProMotion display, and a 6.3-inch screen with Dynamic Island.
On the other hand, the iPhone 18e might come with 8GB of RAM, a binned version of Apple’s A20 chip, a single rear camera, a 6.1-inch display with a notch, and no ProMotion support.
Fixed Focus Digital also reinforces earlier rumors about changes to Apple’s release cycle, suggesting that September and October could become the company’s “flagship season,” featuring the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone, while the base iPhone 18 and 18e may arrive in spring 2027.
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