Khaberni - Apple continues its preparations to expand its mid-range phones, with the upcoming release of the iPhone 17e as the direct successor to the iPhone 16e, in a step aimed at maintaining a delicate balance between strong performance and relatively lower price.
Forecasts indicate that the phone will hit the markets during the period between February and March 2026.
Although the new phone is not expected to revolutionize the iPhone design, leaks reveal a set of notable improvements that may give it greater appeal to users, according to a report published by PhoneArena.
The most prominent expected changes in the iPhone 17e relate to the exterior design, as rumors suggest the adoption of Dynamic Island instead of the traditional notch to accommodate the Face ID sensors and the front camera, which gives the phone a more modern appearance and closer to Apple’s higher-end phones.
In return, the screen is expected to retain the 6.1-inch OLED size, with a 60Hz refresh rate, but the change in the interface form will make the usage experience more modern.
A19 processor
On the performance level, leaks conveyed by Digital Chat Station suggest that the phone will be equipped with an improved A19 processor, to deliver stronger performance compared to the iPhone 16e, which was based on the iPhone 16 processor with fewer graphic cores.
This upgrade is intended to improve response speed and operating efficiency of applications, while maintaining balanced energy consumption within the mid-range category.
One of the major weaknesses in the previous generation was the absence of MagSafe support, but the iPhone 17e is expected to address this issue by equipping it with back magnets that allow magnetic wireless charging.
According to leaks, charging speeds may reach 20–25 watts, compared to only 7.5 watts in the iPhone 16e, opening up the use of MagSafe accessories such as smart covers, power banks, and car mounts.
Front camera
Regarding the front camera, leaks indicate a notable jump in resolution, where it is expected to increase from 12 megapixels to 18 megapixels.
The phone will also support the Center Stage feature, which automatically tracks and stabilizes people within the frame during video calls or while taking group selfies.
C1X modem
Among the notable technical improvements, the phone is expected to rely on the C1X modem, which debuted with the iPhone Air, and provides higher download speeds with up to 30% less energy consumption compared to the modem of the iPhone 16 Pro.
Despite this, this modem still does not support the 5G mmWave technology, which confirms Apple's continued limited concessions within the mid-range category.
Price of iPhone 17e
On the price front, forecasts according to PhoneArena, suggest that the pricing of the iPhone 17e will start at $599, which is the same as the previous generation.
The phone will be available with storage options of 128, 256, and 512 gigabytes, maintaining its status as the cheapest iPhone available in Apple's lineup.
