A popular leaker on China’s Weibo says the standard iPhone 18 will get two upgrades that the Pro models already have: a faster chip and longer battery life. The bad news is that it will probably cost more, too.
The Regular iPhone 18 Is Expected in Early 2027
Apple broke from its usual pattern this fall and announced only the Pro models of the iPhone 18 lineup. Reports suggest the regular iPhone 18 will follow in early 2027, and this leak gives buyers two good reasons to wait for it.
A Bigger Battery and a 2nm Chip
Battery life should improve, and not only because the new chip uses less power. The battery itself is getting bigger.
The phone is expected to run on a less powerful version of Apple’s A20 chip, which is built on TSMC’s 2nm manufacturing process. A smaller process usually means more speed for the same amount of power, so the chip and the bigger battery should work together to make the phone last longer between charges.
The Smaller Dynamic Island Stays on the Pro Models
The smaller Dynamic Island will remain exclusive to the iPhone 18 Pro series, so buyers of the regular model won’t get it this time.
Expect to Pay More
The iPhone 18 is also expected to cost more than the iPhone 17. Chip and memory prices have been climbing across the industry, and Apple’s new 2nm chips are reported to cost more to make than last year’s.
That would break a long run of steady pricing for the base model. The iPhone 17 started at $799, the same price Apple has charged for its standard iPhone since 2020, and it came with double the base storage at 256GB. The $100 increase last year landed on the iPhone 17 Pro, which went from $999 to $1,099.
Apple hasn’t confirmed the iPhone 18’s price, and the leak doesn’t say how big the increase will be.
