iPhone 17E Launch Date, Worth, and Specs – Information & Rumors

Key Takeaways:

• Options: Apple would possibly embrace MagSafe on the iPhone 17E.
• Launch date: Probably at Apple’s March 4 occasion in New York, London and Shanghai.
• Worth: The iPhone 17E is rumored to start out at $599, simply as final yr’s iPhone 16E did.
• Processor: The iPhone 17E might have the A19 processor seen within the iPhone 17.
• Design: May get the Dynamic Island and look extra like an iPhone 15.

Apple’s lower-cost iPhone line is anticipated to proceed with an iPhone 17E reportedly releasing early this yr. If that is true, the sequel to final yr’s $599 iPhone 16E has quite a lot of room to step up.

Some rumors level to enhancements borrowed from Apple’s iPhone 15, corresponding to Dynamic Island and MagSafe. If these are true, it might make the lower-cost iPhone 17E a compelling worth possibility with fewer trade-offs wanted to hit a lower cost.

Watch this: Apple’s iPhone 17E Is Close to: This is What We Count on

05:58

Apple’s $599 iPhone 16E was a little bit of an oddity when it was launched final yr. It changed Apple’s $429 iPhone SE, successfully retiring the older iPhone SE design that included a residence button with Contact ID. Apple’s new “funds” system was a pricier amalgamation, that includes the physique of an iPhone 14 with a show notch. It additionally had the USB-C port from the iPhone 15 and the A18 processor from the iPhone 16 to help Apple Intelligence options. 

To save cash, Apple scaled again on options by together with solely a single 48-megapixel important digicam and omitting Apple’s MagSafe clip-on functionality (although it stored commonplace wi-fi charging). Whereas the iPhone 16E is a strong starter iPhone, I discovered these omissions to be complicated, particularly on condition that Apple elevated the value of this entry-level iPhone from $429 to $599. 

An iPhone 17E might comply with a playbook nearer to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE. It could have most of the similar options because the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17, just like the smaller display notch and an A19 processor, together with smaller downgrades to the {hardware} that may be much less noticeable. 

Apple hasn’t confirmed whether or not an iPhone 17E exists but, however we’re maintaining a watch out. Listed below are the rumors we have heard to this point, with options that would assist or hinder the extra budget-friendly iPhone 17E.

Watch this: iPhone 16E Evaluate

07:20

iPhone 17E launch date: February or March 2026

The iPhone 17E may very well be introduced as early as February, in line with a Mashable report citing the Digital Chat Station Weibo account. Whereas this might nonetheless occur, it feels extra possible that this iPhone can be a part of Apple’s upcoming March 4 occasion, which can be rumored to function merchandise like a lower-cost MacBook. This could align with the iPhone 16E’s February 2025 announcement, establishing winter as Apple’s most well-liked launch window for cheaper iPhone fashions. 

There are even rumors suggesting the base iPhone 18 will launch within the first half of 2027, however let’s not get too forward of ourselves.

iPhone 17E design: Will get a Dynamic Island

One facet that made the iPhone 16E stand out was Apple’s new design, which featured the iPhone 14’s physique, a USB-C port and a single digicam. 

The iPhone 17E, nevertheless, will allegedly look extra like 2023’s iPhone 15, with a smaller Dynamic Island cutout, in line with the identical Digital Chat Station Weibo put up. The iPhone 17E is rumored to have a 6.1-inch show with a cutout, together with dynamically sized notifications for timers and app alerts, corresponding to Uber pickups. That show might have thinner bezels surrounding it in contrast with the iPhone 16E, says The Elec. 

This design is corroborated by the Sensible Pikachu Weibo account, which additionally notes that the iPhone 17E could have a 60Hz refresh price display slightly than the 120Hz one seen throughout the iPhone 17 line and the iPhone Air. It might be good to see a 17E with a 120Hz show, dubbed ProMotion by Apple. However that is one space that may very well be much less noticeable to folks coming from a former iPhone SE or an older base mannequin just like the iPhone 14.

Whereas Apple’s ProMotion shows have been obtainable on Professional fashions for years — in addition to on nearly each Android cellphone that prices $300 and extra — the smoother animations and always-on shows it gives will not be as noticeable when switching from a cellphone that by no means had them.

iPhone 17E options: A19, MagSafe 

Apple’s iPhone 17E ought to get the A19 processor seen within the more-expensive iPhone 17. In accordance with Mark Gurman’s Energy On publication, the cellphone is anticipated to incorporate the chip, which might be highly effective sufficient for Apple Intelligence options. The iPhone 17E can be anticipated to get Apple’s new in-house mobile and wi-fi chips, which might proceed on from the C1 modem seen within the iPhone 16E and the C1X modem included within the iPhone Air.

It baffled me that Apple did not embrace MagSafe with final yr’s iPhone 16E. The function, which permits for sticking magnetic equipment like chargers and wallets with no case, has been on most iPhone fashions since 2020. It felt like an odd omission, since Apple contributed MagSafe’s charging and magnetic profiles to the Qi2 commonplace, each of that are on Google’s Pixel 10 telephones, HMD’s Skyline, and the upcoming Clicks Communicator.

The iPhone 17E is rumored to have a glass again that helps magnetic wi-fi charging — possible which means the cellphone would acquire the flexibility to magnetically connect to MagSafe and Qi2 equipment, in line with a report in The Info noticed by 9to5Mac. This could be a significant enchancment for somebody coming to this cellphone from an iPhone SE or the iPhone 11, each of which do help Qi wi-fi charging however don’t embrace magnets for attaching equipment and circumstances. 

Whereas we would want extra particulars, hopefully, the inclusion of MagSafe additionally means the iPhone 17E’s wi-fi charging pace would enhance to at the least 15 watts, matching the iPhone 15.

iPhone 17E pricing

Apple’s iPhone 17E is anticipated to start out at $599, in line with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This could hold the identical pricing as final yr’s iPhone 16E, however with the addition of recent options like Apple’s newer A19 processor and help for MagSafe equipment. There is no phrase on if storage configurations would additionally carryover from the iPhone 16E, but when it did then the $599 value can be for a 128GB storage mannequin. I am hoping the iPhone 17E begins at 256GB of storage, like the bottom iPhone 17. And for reference, Apple does nonetheless promote final yr’s base iPhone 16 at 128GB, with the latter beginning at $699.