Features, price and everything we know about Apple’s new cheap mobile

When will the iPhone 17e be presented?

Apple has a very marked appointment on the calendar for the first half of 2026. As confirmed by the company, the iPhone 17e would be presented March 5following the pattern already established by the iPhone 16e, which was announced in February 2025. Although Apple has not officially confirmed that it will present this model at such an event, everything indicates that it is one of the new features.

In this article we are going to review everything that is known so far about the iPhone 17e: design, specifications, price and, above all, whether it makes sense to wait for this model or if it is better to get the iPhone 16e now that it is still at its best value for money.

This will be the new iPhone 17e

The leaks draw a mobile phone that, on paper, improves the iPhone 16e in several key points without increasing price. That, coming from Apple, is no small feat. Here are the most relevant news.

MagSafe is back

This is probably the most anticipated improvement by users of the Apple ecosystem. The iPhone 16e was the only model in the iPhone 16 family that arrived without MagSafea decision that generated a lot of discomfort, especially among those who already had magnetic accessories or chargers of this type. The iPhone 17e would correct that mistake.

With MagSafe on board, the 17e integrates fully into Apple’s ecosystem of magnetic accessories: cases, power banks, car mounts and chargers. It is an addition that does not change the fundamental hardware of the phone, but it on a daily basis it makes a real difference for those who are already involved in that world.

Same processor as the iPhone 17, but with one less core

The iPhone 17e would arrive with the A19 chipthe same one that the standard models of the iPhone 17 family will release. However, there is an important nuance: it would be a version binnedthat is, a chip that has not passed complete quality control for premium models and that Apple takes advantage of by deactivating some core. The result is slightly lower performance than the full A19, but substantially better than the iPhone 16e’s A18 Bionic.

For the average user, this is more than enough. The generational leap guarantees compatibility with the next versions of iOS and Apple Intelligence for several years, and in everyday performance the difference with the full chip will be practically imperceptible.

Dynamic Island for the cheapest

If there’s one design improvement that really elevates the perception of the phone, it’s this one. The iPhone 16e maintains the classic notchthat rectangular cutout at the top of the screen that Apple progressively abandoned starting with the iPhone 14. With the 17e, the dynamic pill would also reach the most affordable model in the range.

It must be remembered that the Dynamic Island is not just aesthetics. It is a functional interface that displays notifications, real-time activity and playback controls integrated with the screen design. Coming to the iPhone 17e would put it at the visual level of the entire iPhone 17 family, something the 16e clearly couldn’t say with its legacy notch.

A rear camera, but 48 mpx with better night performance

The iPhone 17e maintains its commitment to single camera system: a single 48-megapixel rear sensor, without telephoto or additional wide-angle lens. In that sense, there are no surprises regarding 16e. However, the leaks point to an improvement in performance under conditions of low lightwhich in practice can make the difference between a usable photo and a blurry photo.

Where there is a clearer jump is in the front camera: the 17e would arrive with a sensor of 18 megapixels with Center Stage supportcompared to the 12 megapixels of the 16e. It is a substantial improvement, since this sensor allows you to take landscape photos by holding the device in any position.

More base storage

iPhone 16e boots in 128GB of storage for $599. The 17e, according to the leaks, would maintain that same starting price, but would start in 256GB. Doubling the base storage without touching the price is exactly the kind of quiet improvement Apple makes when it wants to make a model more attractive without changing its market positioning.

At a time when high-resolution photos and 4K videos eat up space at a brutal rate, booting at 256GB is simply more reasonable. It is not a striking headline, but in daily use it is very appreciated.

The price remains the same

$599. Same as the iPhone 16e. If the rumors are confirmed, Apple will have managed to add MagSafe, Dynamic Island, more storage and an improved front camera without moving a single dollar from the starting price. In the current context, with inflation and tensions in the supply chain, maintaining the price is in itself positive news. If in Europe the price is the same, the base model will cost 709 euros.

Everything that remains the same as on the iPhone 16e

Not everything changes. The iPhone 17e inherits several elements from the previous model without modifications, at least according to what is known so far.

• 60Hz OLED display. It is still a quality OLED screen with good color reproduction, but the refresh rate remains at 60 Hz, far from the 120 Hz ProMotion of the Pro models. In everyday use it is not a drama, but it is noticeable when scrolling through the mobile.
• 4,000 mAh battery. Same capacity as the iPhone 16e. In terms of autonomy, performance will also depend on the efficiency of the new A19 chip.
• 6.1 inch design. The screen size and overall form factor of the phone are maintained, making the transition easier for those who already have 16e cases or accessories.
• USB-C 2 connectivity. No improvements in cable data transfer speed.
• IP68 resistance. Same level of protection against water and dust.
• Black and white colors. The two base colors remain, although Apple has also tested a lavender option that could have reached production.

Is it worth waiting for the iPhone 17e or is it better to buy the iPhone 16e?

The answer is that It depends on how long you can wait.. If you need an iPhone right now, the 16e is still a decent option, especially since there are good deals on the market. But if you can last a few months, the 17e seems clearly better in several aspects that matter in real use: MagSafe is a convenience that becomes essential once you try it. The Dynamic Island also improves the experience and doubling the base storage is not a minor detail.

What doesn’t change is the most frustrating limitation of this range: 60Hz screen. In 2026, with almost all mid-range Android offering 90 or 120 Hz, maintaining that refresh rate on a 600 euro phone is difficult to justify. Apple knows that its users buy the iOS ecosystem and experience as much as the hardware, and that is why it can afford those types of decisions. But it must be pointed out.

Having said all this, if Apple meets price maintenance and in a few months the first offers begin to appear, the iPhone 17e will become a device that is difficult to ignore. It is not the most balanced mobile on the market, but for those who do not need more and want iOS, it offers exactly what it promises: good design, improvements in the points that hurt the most about the 16e and a price that does not go up. Sometimes that’s enough.