The iPhone 17e will be the first update to the cheap iPhone 16e that Apple unveiled in February 2025 and these are all new features.
All the new features of the iPhone 17e
The ‘Special Experience‘ from Apple on March 4 is almost here and we expect the iPhone 17e to be announced that week. We list all the new features you can expect.
Design
The iPhone 17e is likely to look very similar to the iPhone 16e, with the same 6.1-inch screen size, a single-lens camera on the rear, and the choice of black and white.
Screen
The iPhone 17e will likely have the same screen as the iPhone 16e, meaning it will be limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. Apple introduced a 120 Hz ProMotion refresh rate on the regular iPhone 17 in 2025, but we do not expect this technology on the cheaper iPhone 17e. The same applies to an always on function.
Dynamic Island
The iPhone 16e has a so-called notch that Apple has replaced on newer iPhones with the Dynamic Island. That could also happen on the iPhone 17e, but that is not yet a certainty. The Dynamic Island is a pill-shaped cutout in the iPhone’s screen that houses the TrueDepth camera system and the front camera. It takes up less screen space than the notch and is better integrated into the iPhone.
A19 chip
The iPhone 17e will have the A19 chip that is also in the iPhone 17. The A19 chip is built on an upgraded N3P 3-nanometer process and offers a 5 to 10 percent performance improvement over the A18 chip. Apple may be using a downclocked version of the A19 chip in the iPhone 17e. If that’s the case, performance won’t quite match that of the iPhone 17.
The A18 chip that Apple used in the iPhone 16e had a 4-core GPU instead of a 5-core GPU like the iPhone 16 version, so the iPhone 17e could get a similar GPU downgrade. We also expect that the iPhone 17e will again have 8 GB of RAM, just like the iPhone 16e. Apple’s other models have 12 GB.
MagSafe
The iPhone 16e doesn’t have a magnetic ring for MagSafe charging, but the iPhone 17e will likely get one. Apple’s iPhones have used MagSafe since the iPhone 12, making a wide range of MagSafe cases and accessories available. The iPhone 16e is therefore not compatible with these accessories and is therefore limited to a wireless charging speed of 7.5 W. MagSafe would increase that to at least 15 W. The iPhone 17 models can charge via MagSafe at 25 W, although the iPhone Air is limited to 20 W.
Camera
The iPhone 17e is expected to have a single 48-megapixel wide-angle camera at the rear, just like the iPhone 16e. There is no camera control on the iPhone 16e and there is no indication that Apple plans to add it to the iPhone 17e.
The iPhone 17 models have an 18-megapixel center front camera, but the iPhone 17e is rumored to have the same 12-megapixel front camera as the iPhone 16e.
Modem
The iPhone 17e gets the C1X modem, which Apple first introduced in the iPhone Air. The C1X modem is faster and more efficient than the C1 modem that Apple used in the iPhone 16e.
N1 chip
According to the latest rumors, Apple is planning to add the N1 network chip to the iPhone 17e. This chip provides speed and efficiency improvements, as well as Thread support.
Price iPhone 17e
The iPhone 16e cost 719 euros at release and we expect the same price for the iPhone 17e.
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