Apple’s next budget iPhone could be just days away.
According to Mark Gurman in Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter, Apple is preparing an imminent launch of the iPhone 17e – a low-cost refresh that keeps the same $599 price as last year’s model.
The 17e is expected to look almost identical to the current iPhone 16e, with the main upgrade happening inside. It should jump to Apple’s new A19 chip, matching the performance of the regular iPhone 17, and also debut Apple’s latest in-house wireless and cellular chips. One notable practical upgrade is MagSafe support, which the 16e lacked.
Beyond that, this sounds like a classic spec-bump update rather than a redesign. Reports suggest Apple will stick with the same 6.1-inch OLED display and overall form factor, making the 17e a familiar but more capable option for buyers who want modern performance without flagship pricing.
Apple is gearing up for some big new products, with the iPhone Fold widely expected to make a splash this year and a possible iPhone Flip to follow the year after. But in the meantime, those who don’t need the flashiest cutting-edge models will probably be more interested to see Apple continuing to give its “budget” model smart yearly upgrades.