The iPhone 17e is expected to be one of the first products Apple unveils in the first quarter of 2026. The budget-friendly iPhone has been the subject of numerous rumors and speculation over the past few months, and as the reveal date draws closer, the rumor mill has gone into overdrive.
Chinese leaker Smart Pikachu on Weibo has now shared fresh information about the upcoming iPhone 17e. According to the leaker, Apple is preparing to begin mass production of the iPhone 17e this month. This report aligns with earlier information suggesting that Apple will kick off its 2026 product launch cycle with the iPhone 17e, alongside several refreshed iPad models.
All in all, we can expect the iPhone 17e to launch this spring. Last year’s iPhone 16e was released in late February. Smart Pikachu also said iPhone 17e gets a downclocked A19 chip.
However, the Chinese leaker also suggests that the iPhone 17e may feature Dynamic Island instead of a notch. This change would help Apple narrow the experience gap between its budget-friendly and premium iPhone models.
Another Chinese leaker, Digital Chat Station, echoed this claim in August last year, stating that Apple’s cheapest iPhone could launch with Dynamic Island and A19 chip. That said, these claims should still be taken with a pinch of salt.
The Korean outlet The Elec previously reported that the iPhone 17e would use the same OLED panels as the iPhone 16e, with slimmer bezels being the only difference. Since the iPhone 17e is a budget-friendly model, opting for slimmer bezels rather than Dynamic Island seems more likely, as it would help Apple better differentiate its affordable and premium iPhone lineups.
As for the screen size, the iPhone 17e is expected to feature a 6.1-inch OLED display. Smart Pikachu says Apple is keeping the refresh rate at 60Hz to help keep the price down.