Barely a week after the launch of the iPhone 17e, speculation has already begun surrounding the next iteration, the iPhone 18e. The Apple rumor cycle, as usual, is looking ahead even as consumers are still adjusting to the latest release.
According to a post on Weibo by leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Saturday, Apple is reportedly already working on the iPhone 18e. The leaker claimed the new model is “finalized,” though no other details - such as specifications, features, or launch timeline - were provided beyond the model number.
Fixed Focus Digital has had a mixed track record with leaks. The leaker correctly identified the iPhone 16e name and accurately reported that the iPhone 17 would feature a 120Hz display. However, many previous predictions have also proven inaccurate, and Weibo-based leaks in general are often considered unreliable. Analysts note that some leakers amplify rumors or make educated guesses to maintain attention.
Despite the lack of concrete information, the idea of an iPhone 18e is plausible. Apple typically plans new models well in advance, and the company’s extensive development and supply chain processes mean ideas for the 18e could have been underway even before the 17e shipped.
Historically, Fixed Focus Digital has followed a predictable timeline for reporting Apple products. In February 2025, less than a week after the iPhone 16e launch, the leaker claimed a “new project code” for the iPhone 17e.
By April 2025, the leaker reported that the model had reached near trial production, followed by a tentative launch window in May 2026. By December, the iPhone 17e was said to be in mass production, though many of these updates lacked technical specifics and aligned with expected production schedules.
While Fixed Focus Digital earned some credibility for early reporting on the iPhone 16e, predictions about incremental annual updates are now largely considered routine. With Apple’s consistent yearly release cycle, a future iPhone 18e is unsurprising, but concrete details remain scarce.
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