Apple iPhone 17e Could Launch In May 2026, To Replace iPhone 16e In 'Annual Update'
The next-generation iPhone 17e is approaching the trial production stage and is expected to be released next year.
Apple only just released the iPhone 16e late February, and already, there is talk about the next “e” model: iPhone 17e. According to a reliable leaker with purported contacts in Apple’s Chinese supply chain, the next-generation iPhone 17e is approaching the trial production stage and is expected to be released next year.
The claims were shared by WeChat-based leaker Fixed Focus Digital, who also stated that while the precise release date is still unknown, the iPhone 17e is anticipated to be released in late May 2026. The leaker noted that Apple has begun planning the iPhone 17e’s production lines and the device will shortly go into the trial production phase.
According to the leaker, the May release also means that the iPhone 17e could compete with other smartphone makers that usually launch new models around the same time, such as Vivo, Redmi, and Xiaomi.
The interesting thing is the leaker, Fixed Focus Digital, claimed to have discovered a “new project codename” in Apple’s supply chain just a day before the iPhone 16e was released, adding that there was a high likelihood it referred to the upcoming iPhone 17e.
Also, back in December, when everyone else still believed Apple would release a new phone in its iPhone SE series, Fixed Focus Digital was the first leaker to suggest it could be called “16e.”
The iPhone 16e replaced Apple’s budget iPhone SE in a surprising twist. It was priced much higher than expectations—starting at $599—which led to a lot of criticism from critics and fans alike. In its defence of sorts, Apple pitched the iPhone 16e as a more cost-effective member of the iPhone 16 family, featuring a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, A18 chipset, USB-C port, and Apple Intelligence features at an “affordable” price point.
The good news, however, is that Apple seems to be planning an annual update for the “e” range, starting with the 17e next year, contrary to the inconsistent update schedule for the SE range. The first iPhone SE was released in 2016, followed by the second edition in 2020 and the final generation two years later in 2022.
