Rumor: iPhone 18e keeps iPhone 14-style notch, no Dynamic Island

Apple is planning to keep the iPhone 18e at the iPhone 14-style notch design, rather than upgrading to Dynamic Island, according to multiple supply chain sources. The decision is consistent with Apple's positioning of the 18e as a $599 entry-level phone that uses older display technology to keep costs down.

The iPhone 18e will retain the same overall design as the iPhone 16e (released March 2025) and iPhone 14 (released September 2022): a 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch at the top, single rear camera, and aluminum frame. The 18e is not a redesign — it is the third generation of the "e" line, with incremental upgrades to the chip, modem, and camera.

What is the iPhone "e" line and why is it different?

The "e" line (originally called "SE" until Apple dropped the branding in 2025) is Apple's entry-level iPhone, positioned at $599-$699. The line uses:

• Older display designs: notch instead of Dynamic Island, 60Hz instead of 120Hz, no always-on display
• Older camera systems: single rear camera, no ultrawide, no telephoto, no macro
• Aluminum frame: not titanium
• The previous-generation chip: A19 in the 18e, while the iPhone 18 uses A20

The 18e is a "good enough" iPhone for buyers who want a new iPhone at the lowest possible price. It is not designed to compete with the Pro line on features; it is designed to compete with the mid-range Android market and the used/refurbished iPhone market.

What is the notch and why does Apple keep using it on the 18e?

The notch is the black "cutout" at the top of the display that houses the front camera, the Face ID infrared projector, and the proximity sensor. The notch was first introduced on the iPhone X in 2017 and was carried through the iPhone 13 generation. In 2022, Apple replaced the notch with the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro.

Apple keeps the notch on the 18e for cost reasons:

• The notch display is older and cheaper to produce than the Dynamic Island display. Apple has been producing notch displays at scale since 2017 and has fully amortized the production tooling.
• The Dynamic Island requires a more complex OLED panel with a precise cutout for the front camera and Face ID. This adds ~$15-25 to the panel cost.
• The 18e is a $599 phone. The display is one of the most expensive components; saving $15-25 on the panel is meaningful at this price point.

For Apple, using the older notch design is a deliberate choice that lets the company keep the 18e at $599 while still using a high-quality OLED display (the same panel as the iPhone 14 and 16e).

What is the iPhone 18e design and specs?

Based on the most recent supply chain reporting, the iPhone 18e will have:

• Display: 6.1-inch OLED, 60Hz, notch, 2532×1170 resolution
• Chip: A19 (not A20 — one generation behind the iPhone 18)
• Modem: Apple C1 (the same modem as the iPhone 16e, not the new C2)
• Rear camera: 48MP main, f/1.6, single camera
• Front camera: 12MP, f/1.9, fixed focus
• RAM: 6GB LPDDR5X
• Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB
• Battery: ~3,300 mAh
• Frame: Aluminum (not titanium)
• Charging: USB-C, 20W wired, 15W MagSafe
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 (not 7), Bluetooth 5.3, 5G sub-6 only (no mmWave)
• Colors: Black, White, Light Pink (new), Light Blue (new)

The 18e is a $599 phone. The expected starting prices are:

• 128GB: $599
• 256GB: $699
• 512GB: $799

What is the iPhone 18e missing compared to the iPhone 18?

• No A20 chip (uses A19)
• No Dynamic Island (uses notch)
• No always-on display
• No ultrawide camera (single rear camera)
• No Wi-Fi 7 (uses Wi-Fi 6)
• No C2 modem (uses C1)
• No 35W charging (uses 20W)
• No titanium frame (uses aluminum)
• No ProMotion (60Hz display)

This is a long list of features the 18e is missing. The 18e is for buyers who want a "good enough" iPhone at $599 and do not need the latest features. If you want any of the features above, you need to step up to the iPhone 18 ($799) or the iPhone 18 Pro ($1,099).

When does the iPhone 18e launch?

The iPhone 18e launches in spring 2027 (likely March or April), alongside the iPhone Air 2 and the standard iPhone 18. Apple has moved the "e" line to a spring refresh cycle, similar to the iPad Air.

The spring 2027 launch means the 18e is one of the first iPhones to use the A19 chip (introduced with the iPhone 17 in September 2025) at a $599 price point. The 18e has a 6-month lead over the iPhone 18 in using the older chip generation.

What does this mean for buying decisions?

If you are shopping for an iPhone in the $500-700 range, the iPhone 18e is the right choice. It gets you a current-generation OLED display, a recent chip (A19), and a new camera system at a meaningful discount from the iPhone 18.

If you are deciding between the iPhone 18e ($599) and the iPhone 18 ($799), the $200 price difference buys you:

• A20 chip (vs A19)
• Dynamic Island (vs notch)
• 120Hz display? No, the iPhone 18 is also 60Hz
• Ultrawide camera (48MP main + 12MP ultrawide)
• Wi-Fi 7
• C2 modem
• 35W charging
• More storage tiers

For most buyers, the $200 upgrade is worth it. The iPhone 18e is for buyers who cannot or do not want to spend $799.

We will update this article if Apple changes the iPhone 18e design or if the notch is replaced with a Dynamic Island in a later production run.