The iPhone 17e has been long anticipated to offer a value-centric iPhone experience for those who cannot afford the iPhone 17. While rumours have always hinted at a March 2026 launch with minimal upgrades, a fresh rumour emerging from China indicates that Apple’s upcoming budget iPhone could finally shed its outdated design elements. The iPhone 17e could be adopting a more contemporary look aligned with the premium models in the iPhone 17 lineup this year. However, note that this upgrade reportedly comes at the cost of some performance compromises that may disappoint enthusiasts.
According to a Weibo post by leaker “Smart Pikachu,” the iPhone 17e will be positioned as Apple’s affordable entry-level option and will feature a 6.1-inch display equipped with the Dynamic Island element. This shall replace the traditional notch seen on previous budget models like the iPhone 16e and the older iPhone 14. This shift in design to the Dynamic Island would unify Apple’s design language across its entire smartphone range, thus giving the iPhone 17e a sleek, modern appearance.
The iPhone 17e is also expected to regain MagSafe wireless charging support, a feature notably absent from the iPhone 16e, further enhancing its appeal for users in the ecosystem. This should open up a wide variety of MagSafe accessories and an alternative to the usual wired charging solution.
iPhone 17e won’t be as fast and capable as iPhone 17
On the downside, the iPhone 17e is tipped to stick with a 60Hz refresh rate display, unlike the 120Hz ProMotion display on the iPhone 17. This could be a specification increasingly viewed as outdated in 2026, especially when competing Android devices in the sub-$300 range from brands like Samsung and Motorola commonly offer smoother 120Hz panels. The recently launched OnePlus 15R offers a 165Hz refresh rate display.
Powering the phone will be a downgraded version of the A19 chip, potentially with reduced clock speeds or fewer GPU cores when compared to the standard A19 in the iPhone 17. Hence, the iPhone 17e may not boast of processing speeds and graphics rendering capabilities that the iPhone 17 enjoys. Not that this should affect the usual iPhone 17e customer, but the lower price leaves enough reasons for people to consider the iPhone 17.
iPhone 17e release timeline
The iPhone 17e is rumoured to launch in the spring of 2026, following the pattern of Apple’s SE-line refreshes. With the subtle design tweaks, Apple hopes to attract the young crowd away from the value-rich Android brands, especially in developing markets like India where the competition in the midrange segment is at an all-time high.
As far as the pricing is concerned, the iPhone 17e is expected to retain the same sort of starting prices as last year’s iPhone 16e. This means that the iPhone 17e could end up with a price of Rs 59,990, before third-party retailers eventually start selling it with discounts.
