iPhone 18 and iPhone 20 Leaks Point to Battery and Button Changes

The latest rumors concern two different parts of Apple's next iPhone lineup: the standard iPhone 18 and the anniversary models expected in 2027. They are not updates to an entirely unannounced generation. According to 9to5Mac Apple, Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and Duo this fall, but has yet to launch the standard iPhone 18.

An initial leak suggested the standard model would borrow two upgrades from the Pro lineup. GSMArena.com described them as performance and battery improvements, alongside another possible price increase.

On November 3, The Verge reported a rumor that the base iPhone 18 would arrive next year with a bigger battery and a higher price. On November 4, Digital Trends put the possible launch in early 2027 and identified a more powerful 2nm A20 chip among the expected upgrades.

The anniversary design reports were less sweeping. On November 4, 9to5Mac Apple reported that a display without a cutout might not materialize. BigGo Finance described the anniversary Pro model as retaining the Dynamic Island cutout, tempering expectations of an uninterrupted screen.

A separate November 4 report suggested a modest update for the cheaper iPhone 18e. According to MacRumors, leaker Fixed Focus Digital said that model would focus primarily on a chip upgrade, with few major new features.

On November 6, attention shifted to the controls. MacRumors reported that leaker Instant Digital claimed Apple planned to merge the Action button with Camera Control starting next year. 9to5Mac Apple linked the possible loss of the separate Action button to the next Pro redesign.

Then, on November 9, a new claim broadened the expected iPhone 18e changes. MacRumors reported that Fixed Focus Digital now said both the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e would have 6.3-inch displays and use the same battery. Digital Trends also reported that the cheaper model might gain Dynamic Island.

The newest battery and display claim suggests the iPhone 18e could receive more than the chip-focused update described earlier in the week. That is a change in the reported expectations, not a confirmed specification. AppleInsider described the source of the purported internal diagram as a leaker with a mixed track record.

Timing and naming remain provisional too. 9to5Mac Apple reported that the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 were rumored for early 2027. For the anniversary models, Mashable Tech reported the possibility of Apple skipping iPhone 19 for iPhone 20, while Applesfera said the Pro models might still be called iPhone 19 Pro and 19 Pro Max.

The reports support a possible larger battery and faster chip for the standard iPhone 18, but not a settled price. Cult of Mac linked the rumored increase to rising memory costs. The anniversary phone's combined button and retained display cutout also remain leak claims.

For the early 2027 phones, the unresolved details are the actual battery capacities, whether the two models really share a display size, and how much the standard iPhone 18 would cost. The shared battery claim alone does not establish identical battery life.

For the anniversary Pro models, the key questions are whether Apple removes the separate Action button, how a combined control would work, and whether Dynamic Island remains. The coverage has not settled the final product names or specifications.