Apple will kickoff mass production of the iPhone 17e later this month, and it will sport new features like a downclocked A19 chip and the Dynamic Island pill-shaped cutout, claims a Chinese leaker.
The iPhone 16e, which the iPhone 17e will replace, has a notched display and is powered by a four-core GPU A18 chip, in place of the 5-core GPU version that powers the iPhone 16.
According to “Smart Pikachu,” a Weibo account that has a decent record for supply-chain details on Android hardware, the forthcoming iPhone 17e will boast the above mentioned two features. The iPhone 17e is expected to retain a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, says the leaker.
Performance from a downclocked A19 chip could be roughly comparable to Apple’s A17 Pro chip. Meanwhile, the Dynamic Island at the top of the screen would provide an interactive area to display ongoing activities, while also containing the camera and other front-facing sensors.
“Smart Pikachu’s” claims jibe with previous predictions by the leaker known as “Digital Chat Station.” However, another rumor has claimed the iPhone 17e will continue to use the OLED display panel that originated with the iPhone 14 and is also used for the current iPhone 16e, but will feature slimmer display bezels.
Smart Pikachu claims mass production of the device will begin “after CES,” indicating it will kick off on or after January 9. The iPhone 17e is expected to launch in spring, with a $599 starting price.
