{"id":432385,"date":"2026-02-18T14:10:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T14:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/432385\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T14:10:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T14:10:16","slug":"the-iphone-17e-is-apples-next-budget-phone-heres-every-rumour-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/432385\/","title":{"rendered":"The iPhone 17e is Apple\u2019s next budget phone, here\u2019s every rumour to know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple has seemingly revealed its latest event date, with a special Apple Experience planned for early March, according to 9to5Mac, which reported<\/a> on the cryptic invite. The event is set to take place in multiple cities around the world, and while Apple hasn\u2019t revealed what exactly will be announced, speculation is rife. It\u2019s been a while since Apple<\/a> gave its most affordable iPhone<\/a> a serious look-in, but the rumour mill suggests that\u2019s about to change. With the March event imminent, reports point to the arrival of the iPhone 17e \u2013 a device that promises to drag the entry-level model into the modern era \u2013 alongside new MacBooks<\/a> and iPads<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t just a simple refresh. Leaks indicate the new handset could use the same A19 chip as the flagship iPhone 17<\/a>and finally include features like MagSafe wireless charging. If accurate, it would narrow the gap between the \u201cbudget\u201d model and Apple\u2019s premium phones.<\/p>\n

But when can we expect it, and what might it cost? From the potential release date to camera and display details, here\u2019s everything we know so far about the iPhone 17e.<\/p>\n

iPhone 17e release date: When could the phone launch?<\/p>\n

Last February was the first time Apple released an \u201ce\u201d series phone with the introduction of the iPhone 16e. While it\u2019s difficult to predict the release date for the iPhone 17e, notorious Apple insider and Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman claimed<\/a> on 8 February in his PowerOn newsletter that its launch was \u201cimminent\u201d. <\/p>\n

Rumours have been swirling over when the new phone could launch, with MacWorld reporting<\/a> earlier this month that sources at iPhone case and accessory manufacturers believed the phone could be unveiled on Thursday 19 February. I was pretty sceptical about that date, however. Apple has never unveiled a new iPhone on a Thursday before. It usually unveils new gear on a Monday or a Tuesday, and more rarely Wednesdays, with pre-orders usually going live on the Friday. Google<\/a> is also expected to launch the Pixel 10a<\/a> on 18 February, and releasing a phone the day after the rival budget handset feels unlikely. <\/p>\n

With Apple\u2019s latest \u201cannouncement\u201d, it looks like a new iPhone could be coming to us on Wednesday 4 March at its next event. <\/p>\n

iPhone 17e price: How much could the smartphone cost?<\/p>\n

Pricing information for any iPhone is notoriously difficult to predict, with rumours of price hikes cropping up almost every year, only for new models to launch at the same price as their predecessors \u2013 or, in some cases, even cheaper. This time around, however, there\u2019s been little talk of an increase. <\/p>\n

On 8 February, Bloomberg\u2019s Mark Gurman claimed<\/a> the iPhone 17e will cost the same as the iPhone 16e, starting at \u00a3599 for the 128GB model and rising to \u00a3699 for 256GB and \u00a3899 for the 512GB model.<\/p>\n

That pricing would make sense. The leaker who first revealed the iPhone 16e\u2019s name last year has since reported<\/a> that the handset hasn\u2019t been selling particularly well, giving Apple even more reason to keep prices unchanged.<\/p>\n

iPhone 17e design and display<\/p>\n

While rumours about the iPhone 17e are still thin on the ground, Apple\u2019s next budget phone isn\u2019t expected to look dramatically different from its predecessor. In fact, it may look almost identical.<\/p>\n

According to a report from The Elec published last summer, the iPhone 17e will feature the same 6.1in OLED display as the iPhone 16e, complete with a 60Hz refresh rate \u2013 the same panel previously used on the iPhone 14.<\/p>\n

That said, The Elec later reported<\/a> in December that the iPhone 17e could sport thinner bezels, which would help give the phone a more modern appearance.<\/p>\n

There has also been some disagreement over the front-facing design. While earlier reports suggested the iPhone 17e could gain a Dynamic Island, similar to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max<\/a>, a more recent report from Japanese site Macotakara claimed<\/a> Apple will stick with a notch instead. In early February, the publication said there would be no Dynamic Island on the 17e.<\/p>\n

Notably, design changes weren\u2019t mentioned in Mark Gurman\u2019s most recent Power On newsletter either. The iPhone 17e is likely to receive only minor cosmetic upgrades, such as new colours or slimmer bezels, with most of the upgrades happening under the bonnet.<\/p>\n

iPhone 17e specs and features <\/p>\n

Budget phones rarely receive huge design upgrades, with manufacturers instead focusing on internal improvements, and the iPhone 17e looks set to follow that pattern.<\/p>\n

In early February, Bloomberg\u2019s Mark Gurman claimed the iPhone 17e would use the A19 chip found in the iPhone 17, alongside Apple\u2019s C1X cellular modem and the N1 chip, which handles Bluetooth, wifi and Thread connectivity.<\/p>\n

One of the most in-demand upgrades, however, could be MagSafe wireless charging. The current iPhone 16e only supports Qi charging at 7.5W, but the iPhone 17e is tipped to gain MagSafe for the first time. If so, it could support Apple\u2019s latest MagSafe standard with wireless charging speeds of up to 25W, rather than the slower 15W offered by older MagSafe accessories.<\/p>\n

iPhone 17e cameras <\/p>\n

The iPhone 16e has one of the most lacklustre camera setups in Apple\u2019s current lineup and, based on the latest rumours, that may not change much for the iPhone 17e.<\/p>\n

The current model features a single 48MP rear camera and a 12MP front-facing selfie camera. In September last year, Gurman said Apple was likely to retain<\/a> the same rear camera for the iPhone 17e, which would be disappointing.<\/p>\n

The front-facing camera might get an upgrade, but it\u2019s not a certainty. A research note<\/a> from analyst Jeff Pu claimed Apple could upgrade the selfie camera to an 18MP snapper with a square sensor and Centre Stage, similar to the one on the iPhone 17. That rumour hasn\u2019t been widely corroborated elsewhere, though, so we\u2019ll have to wait and see.<\/p>\n

Best iPhone 16e deals <\/p>\n

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open image in gallery<\/p>\n

(Amazon)<\/p>\n

A big step up from the iPhone SE, the iPhone 16e features a vibrant 6.1in OLED panel, a huge leap forward that delivers the deep blacks and rich contrast you\u2019d expect from a more premium phone. Currently \u00a3100 off, it\u2019s real powerhouse too, running on the same zippy A18 chip found in the flagship iPhone 16. <\/p>\n

\u201cFrom more storage to a bigger display that\u2019s OLED and high-resolution, the excellent face ID, ceramic Shield to protect the front of the phone, the latest processor, the all-new C1 modem, a bigger battery than in the iPhone 16, full access to Apple intelligence and more, you get more for your buck than ever before,\u201d said tech critic David Phelan<\/a> in his iPhone 16e review<\/a>. <\/p>\n

For more, we\u2019ve rounded up all the Samsung Galaxy S26 rumours <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Apple has seemingly revealed its latest event date, with a special Apple Experience planned for early March, according…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":432386,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[2306,86,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-432385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-mobile","tag-technology","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432385","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=432385"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432385\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/432386"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=432385"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=432385"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=432385"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}