Tech
Apple to Downgrade The Base iPhone 18 With M12+ Display Tech From 2023 to Fund Pro-Tier Flagships
Apple’s seemingly limitless splurge on mobile DRAM is now producing real-world consequences. Despite its best efforts to paper over the emerging flaws in its strategy, the Cupertino-based tech giant is now being forced to pinch pennies by severely downgrading the base iPhone 18 model, as per a new analysis published by Schrödinger Intel.
Apple’s upcoming base iPhone 18 might get an enhanced version of the M12 display tech that debuted back in 2023
We reported yesterday that the base iPhone 18, which is slated to launch in the spring of 2027 alongside the iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2, could constitute the locus of Apple’s cost-cutting efforts.
While yesterday’s report was not big on specifics, that has changed now, thanks to the tipster Schrödinger, who now believes that the base iPhone 18 might be relegated to an M14 or even an M12+ OLED tech, with the latter being the most likely choice at this stage.
For the benefit of those who might not be aware, Samsung typically implements significant technological upgrades with each new generation of its display panels. For instance, the M16 panels that are slated for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will swap blue fluorescent OLED material for blue phosphorescent material, entailing a meaningful jump in efficiency.
In contrast, the M12+ is a fine-tuned version of the M12 panels that debuted with the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S23 series. Even so, it sits beneath the M13 and M14 on every generational metric that counts.
Of course, Apple will likely try to dampen the blow by hyping up the capabilities of the A20 chip within the base iPhone 18:
“Apple will not mention M12+ in the keynote. They will talk about the A20, the camera, the design. The display will be described as “advanced OLED” and the room will applaud.”
Naturally, from Apple’s perspective, the rationale for creating a veritable chasm between the base iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18 Pro duo is quite sound:
“Standardize the lowest viable panel spec across the two highest-volume SKUs. Absorb the C2 modem cost increase and the 2nm wafer premium at the Pro tier where margins can carry it. Let the base models fund the flagship R&D through volume.”
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