Following the emergence of a rumor that Apple is planning to downgrade the iPhone 18 to cut costs, further detail has emerged suggesting that display and chip specifications will see downgrades. Earlier this week, the leaker known as " Fixed Focus Digital " said that the ‌iPhone 18‌ features " certain manufacturing downgrades " that bring it more into line with the low-cost iPhone 18e model. The decision is said to be "a cost-cutting measure." Now, the leaker has provided further detail . For example, the ‌iPhone 18‌'s display specifications will be downgraded, resulting in inferior screen quality. The manufacturing process itself is said to be "taking a step backward." The iPhone 17 features a 6.3-inch display with ProMotion and up to 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. Since ProMotion was among the biggest upgrades for the device last year, it seems likely that brightness could be among the display specifications to be reduced. In a follow-up post , the leaker provided some insight into Apple's decision. Rather than increase the price of the ‌iPhone 18‌, the company plans to downgrade certain components, including the chip, to maintain the same price point. Although both the ‌iPhone 17‌ and iPhone 17e feature the A19 chip, the ‌iPhone 17‌'s variant has a five-core GPU, instead of the ‌iPhone 17e‌'s four-core version. The iPhone 17 Pro 's A19 Pro chip is essentially the same but has a six-core GPU. As a result, a reduction from five to four GPU cores in the ‌iPhone 18‌ could be among the planned downgrades. Fixed Focus Digital added that it is "highly probable" that Apple will tweak the name of the device's A-series chip in an effort to disguise the extent of downgrade. The Weibo leaker ultimately doubled-down on the move, saying that "the downgrade in the standard ‌iPhone 18‌ model's specifications has now been confirmed." Engineering Validation Testing (EVT) of the ‌iPhone 18‌ and iPhone 18e are apparently set to take place simultaneously in June. The leaker's previous report outlined Apple's decision to implement new cost-control strategies for the device, including specific downgrades to manufacturing processes, chips, memory, and more. The move will "effectively bring it in line with the '18e' model." With the ‌iPhone 17e‌ and ‌iPhone 17‌, the biggest differences are the Dynamic Island , display size, ProMotion, brightness, the front facing camera, the Ultra Wide camera, and battery life. It is not clear which key differentiators will remain between the two devices in their next iterations. iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17 Buyer's Guide: 35+ Differences Compared The leaker apparently verified the information using multiple sources. They noted that the information originates from the same source who correctly confirmed that the ‌iPhone 17e‌ would continue to feature a "notch," contrary to false reports that the device would have a ‌Dynamic Island‌. The standard ‌iPhone 18‌ is expected to launch months after the iPhone 18 Pro models as part of an all-new split launch strategy. Apple's usual fall iPhone announcement is expected to include the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and the so-called foldable " iPhone Ultra ." The iPhone 18e, ‌iPhone 18‌, and iPhone Air 2 will likely follow in the spring of 2027. Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Tag: Fixed Focus Digital Related Forum: iPhone This article, " Leaker: Apple to Downgrade iPhone 18 in Two Ways " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Last week, Macworld 's Filipe Espósito reported that Apple is testing four color options for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and one of those colors has since been corroborated by a known leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. The four alleged color options include Light Blue , Dark Cherry , Dark Gray , and Silver . Dark Cherry would be the signature new color option for the iPhone 18 Pro models this year, following Cosmic Orange for the iPhone 17 Pro models. This might end up being the "deep red" that was previously rumored for the devices. Weibo leaker "Instant Digital" today corroborated the Dark Cherry color option, describing it as a mix of burgundy, coffee, and deep purple. Those were all previously-rumored iPhone 18 Pro color options, but it appears that they are actually one in the same. "Instant Digital" has accurately leaked Apple information before, such as the yellow color for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus . Light Blue looks similar to the iPhone 13 Pro's Sierra Blue color option. Depending on the shade, Dark Gray could be similar to either the iPhone 13 Pro's Graphite color option or the iPhone 14 Pro's Space Black finish. Silver would remain an option too — it is Apple's classic color. iPhone 17 Pro models are available in Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver. Macworld said Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue will likely be discontinued, so do not expect either of those color options to remain available for the iPhone 18 Pro models. Last year, Macworld accurately leaked the iPhone 17 Pro's Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue colors, but the report also mentioned black, white, and gray color options that did not materialize. So, at least some of the rumored iPhone 18 Pro colors will likely prove to be true, but it remains to be seen if Apple moves forward with all four. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro models in September. Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro Tag: Instant Digital This article, " iPhone 18 Pro's Special Color Rumored Yet Again " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
