Two leaked X-ray scans suggest the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e could share the same internal layout and the same 4,430mAh battery. The images are unverified. Even the forum post that shared them warns they may not be genuine.
The scans are automated X-ray inspection (AXI) images of two unreleased iPhones, according to Notebookcheck’s report on the leaked iPhone 18 and 18e X-rays. They first appeared on Chinese social media. On November 5, the known leaker Littertree66 reposted them to the Qualcomm forum on Baidu Tieba.
What the iPhone 18e X-ray leak shows
The labels on the scans name two codenames. “Taycan” (V67 K) is tied to the standard iPhone 18. “Nevera” (V69) is tied to the iPhone 18e.
Both units place their north and south logic boards in the same positions. The battery footprint matches, and so do the MagSafe charging coils. The annotations on the 18e scan say it adopts the Taycan design.
Taken together, this points to one body for both phones. Apple would then separate the two models mainly through camera hardware. Notebookcheck says both phones are expected in spring 2027.
Where the extra battery room comes from
The annotations say the physical SIM tray is gone. That frees space inside the phone for a larger battery. The bottom speaker and the haptic motor also change shape. Both move from a long, narrow design to a wider one.
How the cameras differ
On the iPhone 18, the labels say the wide camera module is physically smaller than the one in the previous generation. The sensor resolution appears unchanged. A part labeled “BG1 Array” sits below the two rear cameras. Notebookcheck thinks it likely connects the second camera.
The iPhone 18e has a single rear camera labeled “Wide.” It sits where the Super Wide camera sits on the iPhone 18. The space below it, where the second camera and the BG1 array would go, holds what appears to be plastic filler.
Leaked battery and camera specs compared
The table below uses only the figures shown in the leak and cited by Notebookcheck.
| Model | Battery in current model | Leaked battery | Change | Rear cameras in scan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 (Taycan) | 3,671mAh (iPhone 17, per scan labels) | 4,430mAh | About 20% more | Two |
| iPhone 18e (Nevera) | 4,005mAh (iPhone 17e rating) | 4,430mAh | About 10% more | One |
One detail in the table deserves attention. The 3,671mAh starting point in the labels is slightly below the 3,692mAh figure Notebookcheck cites for the iPhone 17. The 4,005mAh figure for the iPhone 17e comes from Notebookcheck’s iPhone 17e review.
What changes for you
If the leak holds, the cheaper iPhone 18e would get the same battery capacity as the iPhone 18. Battery size would no longer be a reason to pick the standard model. The second rear camera would remain the clearest hardware gap.
There is an important catch on battery life. Notebookcheck says the 4,430mAh figure likely applies to eSIM-only versions. That is an inference from the labels, not a confirmed spec. What remains unclear is whether versions that keep a SIM tray would ship with a smaller battery. Buyers in markets that still use physical SIM cards should watch for that detail.
Features the leaker claims, without proof
- Both phones have a Dynamic Island and a steel-encased battery.
- The shared body could bring the Camera Control button to the iPhone 18e.
- Apple could leave the U2 ultra-wideband chip off the 18e board, since both boards share a layout. Ultra-wideband helps an iPhone locate nearby devices precisely.
These points come from the poster. The scans themselves do not confirm them.
Why the leak needs caution
Nobody has independently verified the images. They carry an OpenAI watermark. Notebookcheck says this is likely because someone used an OpenAI tool to translate the diagrams into Chinese. The original Tieba post also notes the images may not be real.
The scanned units could also be pre-production hardware. Final retail specs may differ. Apple has not announced either phone.
Open questions to watch
- Does the 4,430mAh battery reach models with a physical SIM tray?
- Will the iPhone 18e get Camera Control, or lose the U2 chip?
- Do the scans reflect final retail hardware or early test units?
Until Apple shows the phones, the safest reading is simple. The leak hints at a shared design and a larger battery, and the camera is the main split between the two models.
