iPhone 18e leaks: From A20 chip to 24MP selfie camera, everything we know so far

Apple is reportedly planning to launch the iPhone 18e in India next year, alongside the standard iPhone 18 and the much-talked-about iPhone Air 2. While the company is still months away from introducing its next affordable smartphone, new leaks have offered a solid glimpse at what the device could bring to the table.According to a 9to5Mac report citing tipster Digital Chat Station, the iPhone 18e will retain much of the familiar design of its predecessor, the iPhone 17e, but will pack a newer processor and a heavily upgraded selfie camera.iPhone 18e expected launch timeline and price in IndiaApple historically refreshes its affordable smartphone lineup in the spring, and the iPhone 18e is expected to follow the same pattern. The device is tipped to launch globally, including in India, around March or April 2027. It may debut at a major hardware event sharing the stage with the flagship iPhone 18 series and the second-generation iPhone Air.When it comes to pricing, the iPhone 18e is meant to sit in Apple's more accessible price bracket. For context, following recent price revisions, the current iPhone 17e starts at Rs 79,900 in India. Market experts predict that the iPhone 18e will launch in a similar price range. However, rising manufacturing costs for memory and storage components might influence the final retail price, limiting how many major upgrades Apple can offer at a budget price.iPhone 18e specifications: What to expectOn the front, the iPhone 18e is tipped to feature a familiar 6.12-inch OLED display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate. This means the upcoming budget phone will continue to miss out on Apple's ProMotion technology, a feature that provides higher refresh rates for much smoother scrolling and animations on the premium Pro models. The display size may remains identical to the iPhone 17e, and it is still unclear if Apple will finally ditch the traditional notch in favour of the Dynamic Island pill-shaped cutout, as the latest leaks do not confirm this design change.Under the hood, the smartphone is expected to get a massive performance boost with the upcoming Apple A20 chip. This new processor is reportedly based on a highly efficient 2nm manufacturing process, which will deliver better overall speed and battery life.The camera setup is also getting a few notable tweaks. The rear camera will likely remain a single 48-megapixel shooter, skipping the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses found on expensive models.However, the front camera is tipped for a major overhaul. Apple may upgrade the selfie shooter to a crisp 24-megapixel sensor, up from the 12-megapixel camera on the iPhone 17e. This will be a huge improvement for buyers who frequently take selfies or rely on high-quality video calls.As is always the case with Apple products, the company has not officially confirmed the existence or the specifications of the iPhone 18e. Since these are just leaks, buyers should wait for Apple's official launch event.- Ends