The more affordable Apple iPhone 17e smartphone will be revealed “imminently”, according to a new report from the reliable Apple-watcher Mark Gurman.
The Bloomberg reporter believes the new handset will kickstart Apple’s plans to jumpstart 2026 with new a hardware spree that’ll also include new Mac models.
Previous rumours have suggested the phone will arrive on February 19. That’s the same date as the iPhone 16e arrived in 2025. Gurman doesn’t specify a date but “imminent” could for sure be classified as the next ten days. According to Gurman, writing in his weekly Power On newsletter, the iPhone 17e won’t be getting a price bump. It’ll be available for $599, Gurman says. That means we’d likely see the same starting price of £599 in the UK too.
That’s good news considering Apple is also planning to bring key upgrades to the second generation ‘e’ series phone. The four key updates will include what were thought to be omissions from the first generation model. For starters, there’ll be MagSafe connectivity, Gurman says. It’s also set to boast the latest A19 processor Apple uses for the base iPhone 17 handset revealed in September.
Furthermore, Gurman writes, the iPhone 17e will include the C1X 5G modem Apple uses in its flagship phones. It’ll have the N1 chip that handles Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Thread connectivity, Gurman reports.
The iPhone 16e was considered a successful release for Apple. It was the company’s first sub-flagship since the iPhone 5c all those years ago. Our reviewer said it made her “realise what you actually need for a good smartphone.” She praised the lightweight and updated design, the superb battery life and performance, and a great single-lens camera.
She concluded: A lightweight design, solid performance, consistent camera and brilliant battery make the iPhone 16e a great value option for those wanting a (slightly) less expensive iPhone.”
