Apple will make important concessions on the iPhone 17e so that it does not cannibalize iPhone 17 sales

Apple prepares the launch of the iPhone 17e for the first half of 2026, but unlike what happened with the previous generation, the company will adjust its characteristics to prevent it from competing directly with the base model of the iPhone 17. This is stated by analyst Mark Gurman, who points out that the device will be presented as an option clearly aimed at the cheapest segment.

As a precedent we have the iPhone 16e. This model arrived in early 2025 with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display and the design inspired by the iPhone 14, with thin bezels and Dynamic Island instead of the classic notch. Although it had a single camera sensor, an A18 chip with a 4-core GPU, and a simpler aluminum frame, the package was competitive enough to propel Apple to first place in the global smartphone market in the first quarter of the year, with a 19% share.

Apple prepares an iPhone 17e with more content

According to Gurman, Apple has decided to change strategy with the iPhone 17e. The new version will maintain a lower price, but with further cuts in specifications compared to the base model. Among the most notable differences is the expected absence of ProMotion technology, which offers refresh rates of up to 120 Hz. Instead, the 17e would stay at 60 Hz. It would also retain the single camera inherited from the iPhone 16e.

Still, Apple won’t dispense with all aesthetic appeal. As the source mentions, the iPhone 17e will inherit the general design of the iPhone 16, with the Dynamic Island as a characteristic element. In addition, it will integrate the new A19 chip, although with fewer cores than the version included in the standard iPhone 17.

It is evident that with this proposal Apple balances so that all your devices look attractive and don’t cannibalize each other. Of course, another factor that will influence sales of this new generation is the price. If the iPhone 17e is much cheaper than the iPhone 17, buyers will choose it ahead of the latter. So the prices of both devices will probably be very close to prevent that from happening and even to stimulate sales of the iPhone 17.