The base model iPhone 18 may see a price increase while featuring a larger battery and the A20 chip built on a 2nm process. Current leaks have not provided specific details on the price hike or battery capacity, and Apple has not confirmed these configurations or pricing arrangements.
Reports also indicate that the base model will not feature the smaller Dynamic Island reportedly equipped on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, suggesting that design differences in display areas may continue to distinguish between models.
The base model iPhone 18 was absent from Apple's fall iPhone launch event. Leakers claim that the device will be released early next year, potentially alongside the second-generation iPhone Air and the iPhone 18e.
In terms of pricing, Apple raised prices by $100 for older models, including the iPhone 17, in September. Google and Samsung have also implemented similar price increases for their phones over the past year, with these changes attributed to shortages of memory and other components. Despite the price hikes, Apple reported record-breaking iPhone sales this week.