Upcoming iPhone 18 Rumors and Launch Timeline
According to reports from The Verge and 9to5Mac, fresh rumors surrounding the upcoming base iPhone 18 have surfaced from tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo. While Apple launched only the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Duo during its fall event, the base iPhone 18 is anticipated to arrive early next year, alongside a second-generation iPhone Air and an iPhone 18e model.
Expected Upgrades and Features
The upcoming base iPhone 18 is slated to receive notable hardware improvements, taking inspiration from the Pro models. According to the leaked details, the device will feature a boosted battery capacity, following a trend of battery enhancements seen in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Additionally, it is expected to run on a new A20 chip built on TSMC's 2-nanometer process, which is anticipated to bring larger-than-usual performance and efficiency gains.
Despite these internal upgrades, the base iPhone 18 reportedly will not feature the smaller Dynamic Island found on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models.
Pricing and Market Context
The leaks suggest that the base iPhone 18 will come with a higher price tag compared to its predecessor, driven in part by Apple's RAM price hikes. While the pricing portion of the leak is considered speculative, the current iPhone 17 already carries a starting price of $899, following a $100 price increase in September. The Verge notes that component shortages, particularly regarding RAM, have similarly prompted Google and Samsung to raise their phone prices by $100 over the past year. Despite these higher prices across the industry, Apple recently reported record-breaking iPhone sales.