iPhone 18e rumored to get A20 processor but not stray much from iPhone 17e

A new claim from a generally reliable leaker details most of the specifications for the forthcoming iPhone 18e, with the only significant upgrade being the processor.

Leaker Digital Chat Station has been posting and sometimes reposting about the display for the iPhone 20 Pro, but now claims to have details for the iPhone 18e.

Writing on the Chinese social media site Weibo, the leaker says that the iPhone 18e will have:

• 6.12-inch 60Hz LTPS OLED screen
• A20 processor
• One 48 megapixel rear camera
• Possibly a 24 megapixel selfie camera

That would mean the iPhone 18e retaining the same display as its two predecessors. Apple describes both the iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e as having 6.1-inch displays, so 6.12-inches is likely a rounding error at most.

Unsurprisingly, the screen will not add the ProMotion feature that distinguishes the more expensive iPhone models. This both speeds up and slows down the display, making it responsive when needed but also saving battery life when it can.

So on the surface the iPhone 18e is not expected to be materially different from the previous models, but it will see a big improvement in use because of its processor. Instead of the A19 of the iPhone 17e, or the A18 of the iPhone 16e, the leaker is certain the new model will use the A20 processor.

This is not the same A20 Pro processor as used in the iPhone 18 Pro, but it is believed to be another 2-nanometer chip. That should bring it extra performance, but also greater power efficiency.

The iPhone 18e is expected to be launched in spring 2027 alongside the forthcoming iPhone 18. This base model is also expected to use the A20 processor, and some previous rumors claim that it and the iPhone 18e will be much more alike than the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17e.