iPhone 17e: All the pieces we all know to date

[ad_1] With the iPhone 16e, Apple tried to revive the reasonably priced iPhone section by providing a well-known type issue and succesful {hardware}. However regardless of that, 2025’s most cost-effective iPhone launch wasn’t as sizzling and well-liked as the opposite ones. Effectively, that would change with the arrival of the iPhone 17e.

With detailed rumors pouring in for over six months now, the iPhone 17e is among the many most-anticipated Apple product launches within the first half of the 12 months, and to date, the rumor mill has solely been variety to the machine. So, with none additional ado, right here’s the whole lot we all know concerning the iPhone 17e.

Launch date and value rumors

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Whereas some rumors prompt a February 19 launch date for the iPhone 17e, that didn’t occur. As an alternative, the telephone ought to break cowl on the “particular Apple expertise” media briefing periods on March 4, 2026.

Apple is holding press briefings in three cities world wide — New York, London, and Shanghai — which appears like the right time to introduce the world to the brand new, higher, and, most significantly, cheaper iPhone.

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Pre-orders for the iPhone may start both because the occasion ends or the subsequent day, with common availability from across the second week of March.

However precisely how low cost may the iPhone be? Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman means that the iPhone 17e (128GB) may retain the iPhone 16e’s launch value of $599. Regardless of rumored {hardware} upgrades, the corporate would possibly freeze the smartphone’s launch value for an additional 12 months.

Regardless of all of the stories concerning the ongoing reminiscence disaster, Apple’s long-term partnership with its suppliers and the dimensions of its operations give it a singular benefit over different manufacturers, at the same time as different smartphone makers (together with world giants like Samsung) wrestle to manage smartphone costs.

Design and show

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Apple’s iPhone 16e is commonly criticized for its outdated design (it’s the large notch on the high of the display that bothers some patrons). Effectively, that would go away with the iPhone 17e, because it’s rumored to switch the ugly notch with the Dynamic Island (as seen on the current iPhones).

I strongly consider that the iPhone 17e may borrow its display from the baseline iPhone 15, facilitating the Dynamic Island and thinner bezels. The selection of supplies — an aluminum body sandwiched between two layers of glass — ought to stay the identical as nicely.

Aside from the basic black and white finishes, the iPhone 17e ought to be obtainable in a brand new purple or lavender end, interesting to youthful patrons and serving to the handset compete with the number of colours the Pixel 10a is out there in.

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Coming to the display, the iPhone 17e is rumored to ship with a 6.1-inch OLED display (smaller than the 6.3-inch display on the common iPhone 17) that helps a 60Hz refresh charge and a couple of,000 nits of peak brightness, making it, nicely, usable.

No ProMotion show, no dramatic upgrades in brightness, simply the common, Apple-fashioned refinement. By way of design, the iPhone 17e will probably mirror the iPhone 15 from the entrance and the iPhone 16e from the again.

Efficiency and software program

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Below its acquainted hood, the iPhone 17e ought to characteristic Apple’s A19 (3nm) chip, maybe a binned model with one fewer GPU core (5 as an alternative of six). I’ve been utilizing the iPhone 17, powered by the A19 chip, as a every day driver, and the chip has extra computational energy than I can use on most days.

Additional, the chipset may very well be paired with Apple’s in-house C1X modem (much like the iPhone Air), which ought to supply quicker 5G speeds and as much as 30% higher vitality effectivity than the C1 modem. If that occurs, the ‘e’ collection iPhone may also get the N1 wi-fi chip.

Just like the iPhone 16e, the iPhone 17e may additionally characteristic 8GB of RAM, which is the naked minimal to assist Apple Intelligence (each present and upcoming options).

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The handset would possibly get a storage improve to 256GB on the bottom variant, however I’ll not be stunned if Apple continues with 128GB base storage (since it's anticipated to retain the $599 value). The highest variant, like final 12 months, ought to get 512GB of storage.

Out of the field, the iPhone 17e ought to run iOS 26 (maybe iOS 26.3 or iOS 26.4), with all Apple Intelligence options (together with Writing Instruments, Gemoji, Clear Up, and extra).

And no, the revamped model of Siri won't be obtainable on the iPhone 17e, because it’s delayed to iOS 26.5 or iOS 27. Like different iPhones, the most affordable iPhone also needs to get new iOS variations for round 5 to 6 years earlier than Apple drops assist.

Cameras and battery

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The one again digital camera on the iPhone 17e ought to characteristic a 48MP Fusion digital camera sensor, which permits capturing pictures at 24MP or 48MP decision, together with optical-quality 2x in-sensor zoom, and Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR video recording (as much as 4K at 60 fps).

What I’m curious to see is whether or not Apple goes with the identical 1/2.55-inch sensor on the iPhone 16e or upgrades the digital camera with the 1/1.56-inch sensor discovered on the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17.

In the event you’ve heard about and envied the Heart Stage digital camera on the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17e may very well be your probability to unlock the marvellous selfie expertise for your self and your folks. Rumors point out that the most recent ‘e’ collection iteration may ship with the 18MP square-sensor entrance digital camera we’ve seen on the iPhone 17 collection.

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Past the cameras, the purported entrant to the most recent iPhone lineup may include a 4,005 mAh battery, which is bigger than that on the iPhone 17. If that occurs, the iPhone 17e may supply round 30 hours of video playback (up from 26 hours), making battery life a serious promoting level for patrons.

If that’s not sufficient, Apple can be contemplating including MagSafe charging to the handset, and the quicker one (as much as 25W), no much less. Aside from unlocking handy wi-fi charging, MagSafe additionally unlocks assist for plethora of equipment.

So, whether or not it’s the design, show, efficiency, optics, or battery life, the iPhone 17e ought to get upgrades throughout the board, which might make it one of many best suggestions for potential iPhone patrons on a finances, however with identified compromises like a single-camera setup and the dearth of ProMotion (120Hz) show.