The release of Apple’s updated version of its lowest-priced handset, the iPhone 17e, is “due imminently, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. He says that despite new features, the handset’s price will remain the same as its predecessor.
Gurman shared the following information about the upcoming iPhone 17e came in Sunday’s Power On newsletter:
The new iPhone 17e, which replaces the 16e from a year ago, is due imminently. The big changes include the device getting the A19 chip from the iPhone 17 and MagSafe charging. And it’s shifting to Apple’s newest in-house cellular and wireless chips, I can confirm. I’ve also been told that the company is planning to keep pricing the same, at $599, setting up a simple advertising pitch: You’ll get more features for the same cost.
Gurman believes we won’t see any major new improvements to the iPhone 17e, with the changes expected to be limited to a new chipset, the addition of MagSafe, and new wireless chipsets. Apple is expected to us its own C1X modem and new N1 networking chip. The C1X is an updated version of Apple’s first in-house modem, the C1, which debuted in the iPhone 16e. Both the N1 networking chip and upgraded C1X modem have been used in other iPhone lineups, the iPhone 17 lineup and iPhone Air, respectively.
The good news is that the iPhone 17e’s price is expected to remain the same.
Gurman didn’t mention two new features that other sources have said are coming to the 17e, the Dynamic Island and a storage bump from 128GB to 256GB. That doesn’t mean they won’t happen, merely that he didn’t mention them, which does count as a strike against both rumors.
The current iPhone lineup includes the iPhone 16e ($599), the iPhone 16 starting at $699, the iPhone 17 at $799, the iPhone Air starting at $999, and the iPhone 17 Pro at $1099. This means customers on a tight budget may be pulled between two different iPhone models if the 17e remains at the same price as its predecessor, coming in at $100 below the price of the older iPhone 16.
A 256GB iPhone 17e at $599 would be attractive to budget-minded customers looking for the most storage at a lower price. Although if memory isn’t a top consideration, would-be buyers may lean toward the $699 128GB iPhone 16, thanks to a better camera and other features not available on the iPhone 17e. Only time will tell.
