iPhone 18e tipped to focus on a chip upgrade

Upcoming 📸 Image from the source

📸 Image from the story's source (MacRumors) - not an official image of the new phone.

This is based on leaks and reports and hasn't been confirmed by the maker. Details may change at launch.

Weibo leaks suggest the iPhone 18e will center on a new A20 chip with few other changes, with a launch expected in spring 2027.

MacRumors reported on November 4, 2026 that the upcoming iPhone 18e is rumored to focus mainly on a processor upgrade rather than major changes elsewhere, citing leaks posted on Weibo.

The account known as Fixed Focus Digital said a new chip is the only upgrade it can currently confirm for the device, and claimed the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will share some manufacturing processes. The same account previously predicted correctly that the iPhone 17e would keep its notch, which according to the leaks hints the iPhone 18e may also miss out on the Dynamic Island, though that was not stated explicitly.

Fellow Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18e will carry an A20 chip, a 6.12-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, and a single 48-megapixel rear camera, with a possible upgrade to the front camera. The A20 is expected to be similar to the A20 Pro in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo but with one fewer GPU core, as with its predecessor.

According to these reports, the iPhone 18e is expected to launch alongside the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 in spring 2027. Apple has made no official announcement, and no confirmed price or availability details are available yet.

On the local side, the current iPhone 17e is sold at 51,499 EGP on Amazon.eg and 2,620 SAR on Amazon.sa. Since the iPhone 18e has not been announced and has no confirmed arrival in Egypt or the Gulf, buyers deciding now can either pick up the iPhone 17e at today's store price or wait for official details on the new model; MobiArabia will add local store prices once it arrives.