Apple is reportedly preparing two significant upgrades for the standard iPhone 18, with the upcoming model tipped to feature a larger battery and a new A20 chip based on TSMC's 2nm process. The standard iPhone 18 is expected to arrive in early 2027 as part of Apple's reported staggered launch strategy. While the company has not confirmed any of these details, the combination of a newer chip and larger battery could make the standard iPhone 18 a more substantial upgrade than previous base models.
iPhone 18 Expected Specifications And Features
The standard iPhone 18 is reportedly getting a battery capacity increase over the current-generation model. The leak does not mention the exact capacity, but the upgrade is said to follow the battery improvements expected on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. A larger battery could help Apple improve the phone's overall endurance, particularly when combined with the efficiency improvements expected from the new A20 chip. However, the actual improvement in battery life will depend on factors such as the display, processor efficiency and software optimisation.
Apple has increasingly focused on battery life across its recent iPhone generations, and bringing a larger battery to the standard iPhone 18 could make the difference between the base and Pro models less noticeable in day-to-day usage. The other major change reportedly coming to the iPhone 18 is the A20 chip. Unlike the Pro models, which are expected to use the higher-end A20 Pro, the standard iPhone 18 is said to get a regular A20 processor.
What makes the A20 interesting is the reported manufacturing process. The chip is expected to be based on TSMC's 2nm process, marking a major move forward from the fabrication technology used by previous Apple silicon. The smaller process node could bring improvements in performance and power efficiency, although there are currently no confirmed benchmark figures for the standard iPhone 18. This could also explain the reported battery upgrade. If Apple manages to combine a more efficient chip with a larger battery, the standard model could see improvements in both performance and endurance without necessarily relying on a significantly larger chassis. While the iPhone 18 could borrow some upgrades from the Pro models, it may not receive every design change.
iPhone 18 Price in India Could Start Around Rs 1.2 Lakh
The same leak also claims that Apple could increase the price of the standard iPhone 18. There is no confirmed figure yet, but the possibility of a price increase becomes particularly interesting for the Indian market.
Based on Apple's previous pricing structure, the standard iPhone 18 could potentially start at around Rs 1.20 lakh in India if Apple maintains a similar price gap between the regular and Pro models. This is an estimate rather than a leaked price, and the final Indian price could be higher or lower. Apple's pricing will ultimately depend on factors including component costs, exchange rates and its overall pricing strategy for the next-generation lineup. The current iPhone 17 already carries a higher starting price than earlier base models, making another increase a significant consideration for buyers looking at the iPhone 18.
For now, Apple has not officially confirmed the phone, its specifications, pricing or launch date. The reported battery, A20 chip and pricing details should therefore be treated as leaks until Apple makes an official announcement. The standard iPhone 18 could end up being a much more interesting upgrade if Apple actually brings a 2nm A20 chip and a larger battery to the base model. The bigger concern for buyers will be the price. If the Indian starting price moves towards Rs 1.20 lakh, Apple could make the standard iPhone 18 significantly more expensive while still keeping enough Pro-exclusive features to justify the premium models.
