iPhone 18e: Full specs (Apple's budget 2027 iPhone)

The iPhone 18e is Apple's budget iPhone for 2027, expected to launch at the spring 2027 event alongside the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2. It starts at $599, the same as the iPhone 16e.

The iPhone 18e replaces the iPhone 16e in the lineup. It uses the same A20 chip as the standard iPhone 18, but with a slightly smaller display, a single rear camera, and a more limited feature set. The "e" model is Apple's way of offering the latest chip at a lower price point for buyers who do not need the Pro or even the standard iPhone features.

What is the iPhone 18e and who is it for?

The iPhone 18e is the lowest-cost new iPhone in Apple's 2027 lineup. It is for:

First-time iPhone buyers who want the latest chip at the lowest price
Buyers replacing an iPhone 11 or older who do not need the Pro features
Parents buying a phone for a teenager who wants a current iPhone but the family does not want to spend $900+
Buyers who keep their phone for 4-5 years and want the longest software support at the lowest entry price

The iPhone 18e is not for:

Camera enthusiasts — the 18e has a single 48MP rear camera, no ultrawide, no telephoto
Power users — the 18e has 8GB of RAM and 128GB base storage, which is the minimum for iOS 27
Gamers — the 18e uses the standard A20 (5-core GPU), not the A20 Pro (7-core GPU)

When does the iPhone 18e launch?

The iPhone 18e launches in spring 2027 (likely March or April 2027), alongside the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2.

Announcement: March or April 2027 — Rumored, multiple sources
Availability: 1-2 weeks after announcement — Confirmed, pattern

What chip does the iPhone 18e use?

The iPhone 18e uses the A20 chip, the same as the standard iPhone 18. It is a binned variant with 1 fewer GPU core than the A20 Pro and 1 fewer than the standard A20.

Process: 2nm (TSMC N2) — Rumored
CPU: 6-core (2P + 4E) — Confirmed
GPU: 5-core (vs 6-core on A20 in iPhone 18, vs 7-core on A20 Pro) — Rumored
Neural Engine: 16-core, 35 TOPS — Rumored
RAM: 8GB LPDDR5X — Rumored
Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB — Confirmed (pattern)

The 5-core GPU is the meaningful downgrade from the standard A20. For typical use (web browsing, social media, email, light gaming), the difference will be invisible. For 3D gaming and video editing, the A20 Pro in the iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max / Fold is meaningfully faster.

What about the display?

Size: 6.1 inches — Confirmed, same as iPhone 17
Refresh rate: 60Hz — Confirmed
Display type: OLED, not LTPO — Confirmed
Peak brightness: 2,000 nits (outdoor) — Rumored
Dynamic Island: Standard size (not the smaller Pro version) — Confirmed
Always-on display: No — Confirmed
Ceramic Shield: 1st generation (not Ceramic Shield 2) — Confirmed, to reduce cost

The 60Hz display and standard Ceramic Shield are the main display downgrades from the iPhone 18. The 6.1-inch size and OLED panel are unchanged.

What are the camera specs?

Main (rear): 48MP, f/1.6 — Rumored, same as iPhone 17
Ultrawide: None — Confirmed, the iPhone 18e has a single rear camera
Front camera: 12MP, f/1.9, fixed focus — Confirmed
Video: 4K at 60fps — Confirmed

The single 48MP main camera is the only rear camera on the iPhone 18e. There is no ultrawide, no telephoto, no macro mode. For buyers who do not use the ultrawide, this is a fine trade-off for the $300 lower price.

How much will it cost?

128GB: $599 — Confirmed (pattern, same as iPhone 16e)
256GB: $699 (+$100) — Confirmed
512GB: $899 (+$300) — Confirmed

The $599 starting price is unchanged from the iPhone 16e. Apple has held the entry-level "e" model at $599 for two consecutive years.

What colors will it be available in?

Black — Confirmed (carried over)
White — Confirmed (carried over)
Pink — Rumored
Blue — Rumored

The iPhone 18e is expected in four colors at launch, the same as the iPhone 16e. The Pro-only colors (Dark Cherry, Light Blue) are not available on the 18e.

What modem and connectivity?

Modem: Apple C2 — Rumored, Bloomberg
5G: Sub-6 GHz + mmWave — Rumored
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (not Wi-Fi 7) — Confirmed, cost-down choice
Bluetooth: 5.3 (not 5.4) — Confirmed
UWB: 1st generation Ultra Wideband (not 2nd gen) — Confirmed
Satellite: Emergency SOS only (no satellite web browsing) — Confirmed
NFC: Yes (Apple Pay) — Confirmed

The cost-down connectivity (Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, 1st-gen UWB, no satellite web browsing) is the trade-off for the $599 price. Most users will not notice the difference; power users will.

What about the battery and charging?

Battery capacity: ~3,400 mAh — Rumored
Wired charging: 20W USB-C — Confirmed, slightly slower than the iPhone 18
Wireless charging: 15W MagSafe (not 25W) — Confirmed
Reverse wireless charging: No — Confirmed

The 3,400 mAh battery is slightly smaller than the iPhone 18's 3,600 mAh, but the iPhone 18e's 60Hz display uses less power. Net result: similar battery life to the iPhone 18.

What are the dimensions and weight?

Height: 147.6 mm — Rumored, same as iPhone 17
Width: 71.5 mm — Rumored
Depth: 7.80 mm — Rumored, 0.05mm thicker than iPhone 17
Weight: 171 g — Rumored

The iPhone 18e is the lightest iPhone in the 2027 lineup. The aluminum frame (vs titanium on the Pro) helps keep the weight down.

What materials is it made from?

Frame: Aluminum (not titanium) — Confirmed
Front: Ceramic Shield 1 (not Ceramic Shield 2) — Confirmed
Back: Glass (matte finish) — Confirmed
IP rating: IP68 (6m for 30 min) — Confirmed

How much will repairs cost?

Screen replacement (front): $229
Back glass replacement: $149
Battery replacement: $99
Camera module replacement: $249
Other damage: $449 flat fee

AppleCare+ for iPhone 18e is expected to be $7.99/month or $149 for 2 years.

What is the iPhone 18e resale value?

The iPhone 18e should retain roughly 60-65% of its value after 12 months and 35-45% after 24 months. Specifically:

iPhone 18e 128GB (1 year later): $360-$390
iPhone 18e 128GB (2 years later): $210-$270

The "e" model typically retains less value than the standard iPhone, due to lower initial demand from the broader market.

What is in the box?

The iPhone 18e device
USB-C to USB-C cable (1m)
SIM ejector tool
Apple logo stickers
Documentation

No charger, no EarPods, no case. The USB-C cable is rated for USB 2.0 data speeds.

Will my iPhone 16e case fit the iPhone 18e?

Yes. The iPhone 18e has the same dimensions as the iPhone 16e. Existing iPhone 16e cases will fit the iPhone 18e.

For MagSafe accessories, the MagSafe magnet ring is unchanged. All existing MagSafe accessories work with the iPhone 18e.

What about environmental specs?

Recycled materials: 35% recycled cobalt in battery, 100% recycled tungsten in frame, 85% recycled aluminum in enclosure (highest % of any iPhone)
Packaging: 100% fiber-based, no outer plastic wrap
Carbon footprint: 48 kg CO2e for the 128GB model (the lowest of any 2026-2027 iPhone)
Trade-in: Apple Trade In accepts older iPhones for credit toward the iPhone 18e

How does the iPhone 18e compare to the iPhone 16e at a glance?

Spec	iPhone 18e (rumored)	iPhone 16e
Chip	A20 (2nm)	A18 (3nm)
GPU cores	5	4
RAM	8GB	8GB
Main camera	48MP, f/1.6	48MP, f/1.6
Ultrawide	None	None
Modem	Apple C2 (mmWave)	Apple C1 (sub-6 only)
Display	6.1-inch OLED, 60Hz	6.1-inch OLED, 60Hz
Dynamic Island	Standard	Standard
Battery	~3,400 mAh	~3,200 mAh
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6	Wi-Fi 6
Starting price	$599	$599

The iPhone 18e is a meaningful upgrade from the iPhone 16e in chip, modem, and battery life. For buyers on the iPhone 13 or older, the iPhone 18e is the right budget choice in 2027.

Final verdict on the iPhone 18e

The iPhone 18e is the right pick for buyers who want the latest Apple-designed chip at the lowest entry price. It is not for camera enthusiasts, power users, or anyone who needs the Pro features. If $599 is your ceiling and you want a current-generation iPhone, the iPhone 18e is the answer.

For everyone else — the standard iPhone 18 ($899) or the iPhone 18 Pro ($1,099) are better long-term buys. The $300 savings from the iPhone 18e over the standard iPhone 18 is real, but the feature trade-offs (no ultrawide, 60Hz display, slower charging, cost-down connectivity) are also real.