iPhone 18: Display and chip are downgraded Apfelpatient

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Following the initial report of general specification cuts for the iPhone 18, concrete details have now emerged. According to Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital, the downgrades primarily affect two areas: display quality and chip performance. Apple is thus taking a step back in order to save costs.

Rumors about cost reductions for the iPhone 18 are becoming more concrete. After Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital already spoke of general specification downgrades over the weekend, he is now providing details. The good news: The main functions will remain. The bad news: Apple is visibly cutting costs on the display and chip – two areas that directly influence the iPhone experience.

Specifically, the display specifications are to be downgraded, resulting in lower screen quality. Additionally, the manufacturing process itself is expected to "take a step backward"—which likely affects both the chip and the precision of display production. This brings the iPhone 18 technically closer to the less expensive iPhone 18e, which was previously positioned as a scaled-down version.

This concerns the display

For comparison: The current iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch display with ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate) and a peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits outdoors. ProMotion was one of the most important upgrades of the iPhone 17, enabling smooth 120Hz display performance for the first time on the standard model.

If Apple does indeed downgrade the display specifications, several scenarios would be possible:

Returning to 60 Hz instead of ProMotion would make the device feel noticeably more sluggish.
Lower peak brightness – less readable in direct sunlight
Simpler manufacturing process – possibly an LTPS display instead of LTPO OLED.
Lower resolution or pixel density – less sharp image

The leak does not specify which of these areas are affected. However, the phrase "step backward" suggests a fundamental decline in manufacturing quality, not just a minor refinement.

The chip will also be downgraded

The second downgrade concerns the chip. The iPhone 17 is powered by the A19, a 3-nanometer chip. The downgrade leak has now made it unclear which chip the iPhone 18 will have. Several scenarios are conceivable:

Apple continues to use the old A19 chip instead of switching to the A19 Pro.
Apple is releasing a stripped-down version of the A20 chip with fewer cores or a lower clock speed.
The chip is produced using a more cost-effective manufacturing process – approximately 3 nanometers instead of 2 nanometers.

It's most likely that the iPhone 18 will stick with the A19 chip, while the Pro models – the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max – will get a new A20 chip. Apple has introduced such differentiation in the past – first with the iPhone 14, which got the older A15 chip, while the Pro models used the newer A16. The iPhone 15 followed the same pattern with the A16 and A17 Pro.

Why Apple does things this way

The strategy makes sense from several perspectives. First, the memory chip crisis is driving up the costs of premium components. Anyone wanting to keep device prices lower has to cut costs elsewhere. Second, the iPhone 18 won't be released until spring 2027 – after the split launch with the iPhone 18 Pro in September 2026. During this delayed launch window, Apple needs to position the iPhone 18 attractively while also keeping it profitable.

Thirdly, Apple is pursuing an increasingly clear hierarchy with its iPhone lineup. The Pro models represent the technological pinnacle, featuring a variable aperture, a new chip, and a high-quality display. The standard models are more affordable but offer a significantly reduced range of functions. The e models are the entry-level option.

As the iPhone 18's specifications become closer to those of the iPhone 18e, this hierarchy becomes less pronounced. The Pro models stand out even more – which is advantageous from Apple's sales perspective, as the Pro models generate higher profit margins.

iPhone 18: What this means for buyers

For buyers, the question is whether the iPhone 18 still qualifies as a genuine upgrade over the iPhone 17. If the display and chip actually represent a step backward, that would create a new dynamic in the iPhone lineup. Up until now, the standard release has been a reliable mid-range choice – with the iPhone 18, it could become the smaller counterpart to the iPhone 18e, with comparatively little differentiation.

Anyone who primarily values camera, chip performance, and display quality should take a look at the iPhone 18 Pro. In addition to the variable aperture, this model also brings new colors, including Dark Cherry, and remains the technological pinnacle of the iPhone lineup.

The downgrade leak won't be officially confirmed until spring 2027 – when Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2. Until then, it remains speculation based on Chinese leak reports. (Image: Shutterstock / photoschmidt)