Apple may bring a 2nm A20 processor to the upcoming iPhone 18e smartphone, enabling advanced performance in a more affordable tier of mobile devices.
Leaks indicate the entry-level device will also maintain a 60Hz display.
While Apple remains busy with its autumn hardware schedule, details regarding potential spring product releases have already emerged online. According to Engadget and reporting by 9to5Mac referencing social media posts from Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the next entry-level smartphone from Apple is projected to feature significant processing upgrades.
The previous iteration, the iPhone 17e, utilized a 3nm A19 chip. In contrast, the upcoming model is expected to adopt a 2nm A20 chip, bringing advanced processing architecture previously unseen in non-pro devices. Additional hardware details point to a 48-megapixel single rear camera alongside a front camera that could see an upgrade to 24 megapixels. Other specifications appear to mirror its predecessor, maintaining a 60Hz refresh rate across a 6.12-inch OLED screen.
Background
Specific pricing details for the device remain undisclosed, though component costs continue to influence the market. Apple adjusted prices upward across large portions of its device lineup in both June and September amid broader industry component cost pressures. Industry watchers anticipate that Apple will officially reveal the iPhone 18e during the spring season, alongside a standard baseline iPhone 18 and a rumored second generation of the iPhone Air.
Why It Matters
Introducing a 2nm processor to an entry-level device suggests that advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes are filtering down to more affordable product tiers more quickly than in past hardware cycles. For consumers, this could mean high-end performance capabilities become accessible outside of pro-tier pricing brackets. However, ongoing cost pressures in the hardware supply chain leave open questions regarding how Apple will price the final device when it reaches the market.
Illustration: AI-generated image, not a photograph of the event.
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