Is the iPhone 17 too pricey for you to pocket one? Apple is rumoured to be preparing a new, more affordable version in its 2026 smartphone lineup, tentatively called the iPhone 17e. This model is expected to offer a more flagship-like experience than its predecessor, which was the iPhone 16e. The iPhone 17e is expected to adopt several key features currently exclusive to the premium iPhone 17 series.
Based on the early leaks circulating online, as shared by 9To5Mac and analyst Jeff Pu, it is suggested that the new lower-cost iPhone will launch in early 2026, possibly maintaining the February release window established by the previous generation iPhone 16e. Think of it as a modern generation iPhone SE that tries to offer the classic iPhone experience without missing out on a lot of premium features.
iPhone 17e: All the expected features at a glance
The three major upgrades over the iPhone 16e that are rumoured to be included in the iPhone 17e are:
A19 chipset: Unlike previous entry-level models that often use older silicon, the iPhone 17e is expected to be powered by the latest A19 chip, bringing it on par with the performance of the flagship iPhone 17. While the CPU gains may be modest, the inclusion of the latest GPU is seen as a significant win for users focused on gaming and emerging AI-driven functionalities. However, you can expect Apple to offer only a 4-core GPU on the iPhone 17e instead of the 5-core GPU on the iPhone 17.
Dynamic Island: The controversial wide notch design, which persisted on the iPhone 16e, is finally rumoured to be replaced by the more modern Dynamic Island. This design update not only standardises the aesthetic across the iPhone 17 family but also enables access to crucial software features like Live Activities and interactive alerts.
New Center Stage front camera: Apple appears ready to blur the lines on camera quality. The iPhone 17e is tipped to receive the revamped 18MP front camera introduced in the iPhone 17 Pro models. This camera is rumoured to feature Center Stage capability, automatically adjusting the framing to keep multiple people centered during video calls, marking a substantial improvement for everyday use and group selfies.
iPhone 17e expected price
When it launches, Apple could try to price it in the same category as the iPhone 16e. Hence, you can expect the price of the iPhone 17e to be in the ballpark region of Rs 60,000, offering it as a more cost-effective alternative to the iPhone 16. To keep the price low, Apple could offer it with 128GB storage as standard.
