iPhone 18 May Get Bigger Battery, New A20 Chip and Higher Price

Apple’s upcoming standard iPhone 18 might bring changes. It could feature a battery and a new A20 processor. These upgrades may not come cheap. Rising memory prices are making things tough for smartphone makers. That means Apple might have to raise the price of the iPhone 18. A recent leak hints that the next standard iPhone could cost more, than the iPhone 17.

Apple has yet to officially announce the iPhone 18. In September this year, the company surprised buyers by changing its traditional launch strategy. Instead of introducing the entire lineup together, Apple unveiled three devices: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. The standard iPhone 18 was notably absent from the event.

According to current rumours, Apple is planning to introduce the regular iPhone 18 early next year, potentially alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2. Meanwhile, a new leak has offered some clues about what buyers can expect from the upcoming smartphone.

iPhone 18 battery and processor upgrades

Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station shared details on Weibo, suggesting that the standard iPhone 18 could offer better battery life than the iPhone 17. This would follow Apple's reported focus on improving battery performance across the iPhone 18 Pro models.

The smartphone is also expected to feature Apple's next-generation A20 chipset. The processor is reportedly based on TSMC's new 2-nanometre manufacturing process, which could bring improvements in performance and power efficiency. However, the standard model is unlikely to receive the exact same A20 Pro chip expected in the iPhone 18 Pro series.

When it comes to design, buyers may not see a major change on the front. Unlike the upcoming Pro models, the regular iPhone 18 is reportedly not getting a smaller Dynamic Island. Instead, Apple could retain the same design as the previous generation.

Rising memory costs could affect pricing

One of the more significant details in the latest leak concerns pricing. Digital Chat Station suggests that the iPhone 18 may also become more expensive because of the ongoing RAM and memory supply challenges.

Apple has already increased smartphone prices in India. The iPhone 17 now starts at Rs 99,900, compared with Rs 82,900 for its predecessor. The iPhone 18 Pro lineup also received price increases of up to Rs 30,000 over the previous generation. Samsung subsequently raised prices across its flagship Galaxy S26 lineup by Rs 15,000.

Despite these increases, Apple's financial performance remains strong. The company reported iPhone revenue of $57.58 billion in Q4 2026, registering 17 per cent year-on-year growth. Its overall revenue reached $114.5 billion, up 12 per cent.

Mac revenue also increased 24 per cent to $10.79 billion, while services revenue stood at $31.57 billion.

Apple CEO John Ternus has acknowledged the rising cost of memory, which continues to create challenges for the company's supply chain. If these pressures continue, the standard iPhone 18 could become more expensive when it arrives next year. However, Apple has not officially confirmed its specifications, pricing or launch date.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kahekashan

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Kahekashan is a passionate technophile with a keen eye for cutting-edge gadgets, emerging technologies, and everything in the digital realm. Raised in a Defence family with strong values and a background in literature, she has consistently pursued excellence in every endeavour. Her last full-time assignment involved content writing with the Indian School of Business.

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