iPhone 18 launching in early 2027: Design, price, battery and everything we know

This year Apple appears to be overhauling its traditional launch strategy. As you have noticed, the iPhone 18 was missing from the September 2026 launch event. That doesn’t mean Cupertino has dumped the standard model. If we listen to the murmurs on the internet, they suggest the company is adopting a split-launch strategy, similar to what Samsung has been doing for years.Talking about the iPhone 18, the rumour mill indicates that it will ship with larger battery, more RAM, faster processor, and smoother display. As the iPhone maker rolled out its first foldable or more precisely—iPhone Duo—this September, reports suggest that, due to massive logistical bottlenecks and pressure on component manufacturing lines, the standard iPhone 18 is likely to break cover next year. We can expect it sometime between February and April 2027. The phone could also come alongside two more devices—the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2.iPhone 18 PriceAs the smartphone industry is going through a challenging time globally due to the ongoing memory crisis, let’s begin with iPhone 18’s price. Recently, popular Chinese tipster Digiatal Chat Station took Weibo, the Chinese social media platform and claimed that iPhone 18 may cost more than the current iPhone 17.Corroborating DCS, some reports suggest it could start at Rs 99,900 in India, while others suggest it may be priced around the same as the current iPhone 17, which is Rs 89,900. In terms of memory, the company could offer 256GB and 512GB storage options, with no 1TB variant planned for the standard model. What else could the iPhone 18 bring to the table?Starting with the display, the iPhone 18 is said to retain the 6.3-inch LTPO OLED panel, something that we saw on its predecessor. It is also expected to feature a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate with 1.5K resolution. The display may get higher brightness and slightly slimmer bezels. While the new iPhone Pro and Pro Max models come with a smaller Dynamic Island, DCS, the tipster claimed the iPhone 18 may stick to the same design as its predecessor.Moving to the processor, the standard model could be powered by the A20 chipset built using TSMC's 2nm process. The new processor could offer better performance and up to 30 per cent higher power efficiency than the A19, potentially improving battery life as well. However, the standard iPhone 18 may get a slightly different version of the chip, while the flagship models are expected to run on the A20 Pro. Memory is another area where we may see changes. If Apple is expected to change more for the standard iPhone 18, the company is expected to offer either 9GB or 12GB. A step up from its predecessor, the iPhone 17. While analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has tipped 9GB, Jeff Pu expects 12GB. With an increase in RAM, the device could help users with multitasking and working smoothly with on-device Apple Intelligence features.Now camera, another important area of an iPhone device for an iPhone user. Apple is likely to retain a dual rear-camera setup, as seen on the iPhone 16 and 17 models. It could feature a 48-megapixel primary and ultra-wide sensors. A leaked dummy model hints at a horizontal camera bar, with the lenses stacked vertically. The selfie camera is also tipped for an upgrade, although reports disagree on whether Apple will use an 18-megapixel or 24-megapixel sensor.The iPhone 18 could also feature a refreshed Camera Control button, Apple's C2 modem, IP68-rated water and dust resistance, and iOS 27. One of the bigger software changes may be a smarter Siri. Apple is reportedly using Google's Gemini technology to improve the assistant's conversational skills and let it carry out tasks across different apps.- Ends