Apple could give its standard and entry-level iPhone models a battery advantage over the more expensive Pro variant next year. According to a new leak, the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will both feature 4,430mAh batteries, potentially bringing some relief to Apple fans who still haven’t entered the 7,000mAh Si-C era. The reported figure is also higher than the iPhone 18 Pro’s battery capacity, although real-world endurance will depend on factors such as display technology and power efficiency.
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iPhone 18 and 18e specifications tipped
According to Weibo tipster Fixed Focus Digital, the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, codenamed Taycan and Nevera, respectively, will feature identical 4,430mAh batteries. This would represent a roughly 20 percent increase over the iPhone 17’s 3,692mAh cell. The figure is also higher than the iPhone 18 Pro‘s 4,056mAh battery in physical SIM markets and 4,288mAh in eSIM-only markets. The additional capacity could partly come from internal design changes, including a redesigned Taptic Engine and bottom-firing speaker. Apple is also reportedly removing the physical SIM slot, potentially freeing up space for a larger battery, though this may not be true for all markets.
Both models are tipped to feature 6.3-inch OLED displays, although this contradicts an earlier claim by tipster Digital Chat Station, who suggested that the iPhone 18e would retain a smaller 6.12-inch OLED panel with a 60Hz refresh rate. DCS had tipped a 6.3-inch, 120Hz display for the standard iPhone 18. The latest leak suggests the 18e could get a larger screen, but its refresh rate will reportedly remain limited to 60Hz, compared to 120Hz on the standard model.
Both phones are expected to use Apple’s A20 chipset, reportedly manufactured on TSMC’s 2nm process. The iPhone 18 could retain its dual 48MP rear camera setup, although the main sensor is tipped to be physically smaller. The 18e, meanwhile, is expected to feature a single 48MP rear camera.
iPhone Air 2 design also surfaces
Separately, alleged CNC aluminium dummy models of the iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 have surfaced online. The standard model appears to retain the iPhone 17’s vertically aligned dual-camera arrangement, while the Air 2 dummy shows two camera cutouts within a raised rear camera module. This could indicate a second rear camera on Apple’s slim iPhone, although dummy units do not confirm the final retail design.
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18, 18e and Air 2 in March or April 2027, after there was no sign of the standard iPhones at the iPhone 18 Pro launch event in September.
For buyers considering the iPhones, the larger battery and display could make the successors worth waiting for. However, the 60Hz refresh rate and single rear camera would remain compromises against the standard iPhone 18 and similarly priced Android alternatives. Apple’s final pricing will also determine how attractive the 18e is as an entry point into its ecosystem.
