Apple’s Next Budget iPhone May Bring Processor and Front Camera Upgrades in 2027
Apple’s next budget iPhone could introduce selected hardware improvements while keeping several features from its predecessor. The iPhone 18e is expected to arrive in 2027. The company launched the iPhone 17e in March this year. However, Apple has not confirmed the new handset or revealed its expected price.
A recent leak points to upgrades in processing power and the front camera. Meanwhile, the display and rear camera setup could stay largely the same. Tipster Digital Chat Station claimed in a Weibo post that the iPhone 18e may feature a 6.12-inch LTPS OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The screen would measure slightly larger than the 6.1-inch panel on the iPhone 17e. Nevertheless, it would retain the same 60Hz refresh rate instead of moving to a smoother 120Hz panel.
Additionally, the upcoming handset is tipped to use Apple’s A20 chip. The processor is reportedly built on a 2nm process. This would replace the A19 chip used in the iPhone 17e, which is based on a 3nm process. However, the leak does not include performance figures for the new chipset.
An earlier report suggested the iPhone 18e could ship with 9GB of RAM. This marks an increase from the 8GB of memory on the iPhone 17e. As a result, the extra RAM could better support Apple’s AI features. Some of these features reportedly require 12GB of memory.
For photography, the iPhone 18e could retain a single 48-megapixel rear camera. The tipster has not indicated any hardware changes to the rear camera. In contrast, the front camera may receive a 24-megapixel sensor. This represents a step up from the 12-megapixel front camera on the iPhone 17e.
The tipster expects the iPhone 18e to launch in 2027. This timeline aligns with earlier reports that point to a spring release. Apple launched the iPhone 16e in February 2025 and the iPhone 17e in March 2026. Therefore, the company has yet to confirm when its next budget iPhone will arrive.
