This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more on our Partner Program page.
An X-ray image from China suggests the iPhone 18e will be closer to the iPhone 18 than any previous "e" model. Both devices are expected to have the same display format and battery. According to the image, the iPhone 18 will have a component that has been standard in every iPhone in Europe to date: the SIM card slot. The iPhone 18e is expected to adopt this design.
The iPhone 18e is expected to be released in spring 2027 alongside the iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2. Until now, the entry-level model was rumored to have a display of around 6.1 inches, with the A20 chip being the only confirmed upgrade. However, the overall picture of the iPhone 18e has now been challenged in two areas.
The starting point is a Weibo post by Fixed Focus Digital from the night of November 7th. In it, the leaker shares a graphic that was already circulating online, claiming it has been confirmed through his channels and is „largely accurate.“ He didn't create it himself, but vouches for it. His track record is mixed: he correctly predicted the name iPhone 16e and the notch on the iPhone 17e, but was wrong about the refresh rate.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are both expected to have a 6.3-inch display.
- Both models are said to use the same 4,430 mAh battery.
- According to the graphic, space is created by removing the SIM card slot and redesigning components for the speaker and Taptic Engine.
- The iPhone 18 retains two cameras, while the iPhone 18e remains with one.
- The 6.3 inches contradict an earlier statement from Digital Chat Station, which cites 6.12 inches.
What the graphic shows
The graphic shows two X-ray images side by side, the iPhone 18 on the left and the iPhone 18e on the right. A short summary in Chinese is provided below each device. In the article itself, Fixed Focus Digital adds that both screens are 6.3 inches and that both models use the same battery.
| Feature | iPhone 18 (according to graphic) | iPhone 18e (according to graphic) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Battery | 4,430 mAh | 4,430 mAh |
| Initial value according to the graph | 3,671 mAh | 4,005 mAh |
| Increase according to the graphic | 20 percent | 10 percent |
| Rear cameras | two | one |
The graphic shows a base value of 3,671 mAh for the iPhone 18. The iPhone 17 is currently known to have a capacity of 3,692 mAh. Compared to both of these values, this represents an increase of approximately 20 percent. For the iPhone 18e, the increase would be just under 11 percent.
The graphic shows a smaller module for the iPhone 18's main camera, but without a lower resolution. The iPhone 18e, however, is shown with a single camera. According to the conclusion below, it adopts the iPhone 18's design, resulting in a 10 percent increase in battery capacity.
Fewer slots, more battery
More interesting than the number itself is the explanation. According to the graphic, the iPhone 18 does away with the physical SIM card slot, and the bottom speaker and Taptic Engine are shorter and wider. These three changes alone are said to make the 20 percent improvement possible. The iPhone 18e, according to the graphic, adopts this design.
In Germany, this would represent a significant change. The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e, as well as the Pro models of the iPhone 18 series, accept both an eSIM and a nano-SIM in Germany. Currently, only the iPhone Air and iPhone Duo are purely eSIM-based devices in Germany.
The graphic doesn't specify a market. Apple already offers Pro models with and without a battery slot, and their batteries vary in size.
6.3 inches versus 6.12 inches
With this new post, it's a case of conflicting information. Digital Chat Station stated at the end of October that the iPhone 18e would have a diagonal screen size of 6.12 inches, the same as the iPhone 17e. Fixed Focus Digital now counters with a figure of 6.3 inches and points out in the comments that the same leaker also attributed a Dynamic Island display to the iPhone 17e. The iPhone 17e came with a notch.
Fixed Focus Digital is also going a step further than its own previous leaks. At the beginning of November, the leaker only confirmed the new chip for the iPhone 18e and recalled his accurate prediction of the notch in its predecessor. Now he's mentioning a larger display and a larger battery. When a user asked if the iPhone 18e would get Dynamic Island, he replied succinctly that it was about time.
This isn't a firm commitment to the Dynamic Island display. However, at 6.3 inches, it seems likely, as Apple hasn't yet built a display of this size with a notch.
An e-model without a special format
I consider the battery to be the most reliable specification in the graphic. This development aligns with reports of shared manufacturing processes for the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, and with the larger battery that Digital Chat Station mentioned for the iPhone 18. Ultimately, the main remaining gap for the iPhone 18e would be the second camera.
The card slot is where the graphical improvements would be most noticeable in this country. If you're still using a physical SIM, it's worth taking a look at how to set up an eSIM on your iPhone. Further news about the device can be found on the iPhone 18e topic page.
Would an iPhone 18e with a 6.3-inch screen and a larger battery be reason enough for you to forgo the iPhone 18, or is the second camera worth the extra cost? Let us know in the comments if you would miss the ultra-wide camera.
