Apple is reportedly planning to follow up its low-end iPhone, the iPhone 16e, with a successor earlier than expected.
According to a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to launch its new budget-friendly iPhone, dubbed the 17e, in early 2026. This means the company will follow a yearly update schedule for its low-cost iPhone.
This follows analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's earlier predictions that the iPhone 17e could enter trial production in April and launch in May 2026. But according to the latest report, the release could come sooner, in February.
Kuo has also asserted that Apple will continue the “e” lineup, with a third-generation expected in the spring of 2027.
iPhone 17e Arriving In 2026 In Annual Refresh Cycle
The iPhone 16e debuted in February this year, replacing the iPhone SE lineup. However, the launch timeline of the SE series was anything but regular. The first SE released in 2016, while the second generation in 2020, and the last in 2022.
It was unclear whether the iPhone 16e will have an annual refresh cycle or would follow the random pattern of its predecessor, the SE.
With the iPhone 17e tipped to come in 2026, it now appears that Apple is looking to follow an annual upgrade for its low-cost iPhone as well.
iPhone 17e Expected Price And Specs
Apple launched the 16e at a starting price of $599 (Rs 59,900 in India). There could be a minor markup in pricing, and the iPhone 17e price in India could be around Rs 64,990.
The iPhone 17e will likely maintain its 6.1-inch OLED display and USB-C port, and is expected to be powered by the A19 chip. As reported by Korean outlet The Elec, the 17e will utilise OLED panels that were initially used in the iPhone 14 to help reduce costs.
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