In summary:
- Tech Advisor reports the iPhone 17e is expected to launch February 19, 2026, with availability by February 27, priced around £599-£650.
- Apple’s budget-friendly ‘e’ model will feature an A19 chip, 48Mp main camera, 18Mp selfie camera, and 4500mAh battery with MagSafe charging.
- This represents Apple’s new strategy of spring launches for affordable models, offering incremental upgrades over the iPhone 16e at competitive pricing.
In summary:
- iPhone 17e likely priced at £599-£650/$599-$650
- Expected announcement date 19 February 2026
- Modest specs and hardware upgrades expected from the 16e, including MagSafe charging
The iPhone “e” model is Apple’s take on a budget smartphone. But it’s budget on Apple’s terms. Even though it’s the most affordable model that Apple sells new, it’s not low-cost compared to Android rivals. You won’t find it in our round-up of the best budget phones , for example.
The iPhone 16e was the replacement for the SE models, the last of which launched in 2022. The iPhone SE (2022) suffered from a dated design and less than stellar LCD display, making it difficult to recommend. So it was no surprise that Apple’s successor, 2025’s iPhone 16e , was given an updated look.
The iPhone 16e has good performance too, thanks to the fact it runs on Apple’s A18 chip (albeit a four-core GPU variant), and solid battery life. But there’s no MagSafe compatibility and, given its £180/$180 price hike from the SE, it didn’t exactly wow in the value-for-money stakes.
So, what will Apple change for the next iteration of its entry-level model, the iPhone 17e? Here’s what we know so far.
Bear in mind that what follows is based on industry leaks and analyst projections. We won’t know anything for sure until Apple confirms it. However, by the time the rest of the iPhone 17 models had launched in September 2025, a huge amount of correct information on specs, features and pricing was already out in the wild – and Tech Advisor had reported on it.
We’ll be updating this article in the days leading up to the launch.
When will the iPhone 17e be launched?
In summary:
- 19 February announcement expected
- The 17e could be available to buy from Friday, 27 February
- As yet, these dates have not been confirmed by Apple
The iPhone 17e was not launched alongside the other iPhone 17 models in September 2025. But we expect to see it soon.
The latest information, as revealed by our sibling publication Macwelt , based on industry information, suggests that the 17e will be announced on Thursday, 19 February. The publication points out that a Thursday launch would be unusual for Apple, but as this isn’t a flagship product, it’ll likely only be heralded by a press release, not a dedicated launch event.
This is in line with the release of the 16e, which took place on 28 February 2025, after a 19 February announcement. So we would estimate that the 17e will be available to buy on Friday 27 February.
iPhone 16e
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
From the next iteration onwards, Apple is expected to launch a new, entry-level “e” model every year. It’s thought that Apple will begin a new two-tier launch strategy, with high-end models making their debut in September, and more affordable models in the spring.
Under this system, the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and the anticipated iPhone foldable would appear in September 2026 and the base model iPhone 18 and the 18e in spring 2027.
So, the date the iPhone 17e arrives in 2026 could well become as solid a calendar appointment for more affordable model launches as the early September iPhone launch is for high-end phones.
How much will the iPhone 17e cost?
In summary:
- No firm information yet
- Tariffs could influence price
- £599-£650/$599-$650 price currently mooted
When the iPhone 16e debuted in February 2025, it had a launch price of £599/$599. But it’s thought that the iPhone 17e could be more expensive.
The current projection is that it will launch at £650/$650. There are a number of factors influencing price. Chief among them is a dispute over OLED panel intellectual property between Samsung and BOE, which could see prices for the panels increase.
There’s also the potential influence of US Government tariffs. These factors could see Apple raise the iPhone 17e’s price, although it’s highly unlikely to be more expensive than the iPhone 16, which is now available from the brand at £699.
What specs and features will the iPhone 17e have?
In summary:
- 6.1-inch OLED panel
- MagSafe charging expected
- A19 chip (4-core variant)
From what early rumours suggested, the upgrades from iPhone 16e to 17e will be fairly limited. It’s on Apple to make sure that the 17e offers equivalent value for money to the excellent £799/$799 iPhone 17 , especially given that the iPhone 16e didn’t offer the most compelling package of features.
However, the newest rumour has it that the 17e will be getting a huge upgrade in the form of MagSafe capabilities. This would bring it in line with not only other new iPhone models, but Pixel 10 phones as well, making it a much more attractive model for the price.
It’s also thought that the 17e will feature the next generation of Apple’s C1 modem, developed in-house.
To be clear, Apple has not yet announced any iPhone 17e features but supply chain rumours and industry speculation have offered up some likely specs and features.
Display
The iPhone 17e is not expected to match the new 6.3-inch display of the iPhone 17. Instead, it’s likely to have the same 6.1-inch OLED display as its predecessor. It’s also expected to retain its 60Hz refresh rate.
Rumour has it that the bezel around the display will be narrower, in line with more premium models.
iPhone 16e display
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
However, another new leak has added weight to the idea that it’ll feature Dynamic Island, unlike the 16e, which had a notch. Dynamic Island allows users to switch between apps quickly, and keep an eye on timers, calls and music when using the iPhone in other ways.
Still, some pundits believe that the Dynamic Island upgrade will be saved for the 18e.
Hardware changes are expected to be modest from the 16e.
Camera
The iPhone 17e is expected to retain the same 48Mp single-lens camera as the iPhone 16e. It’s also projected to feature a the 18Mp selfie camera that all other 17 models have.
Performance
The iPhone 17e is expected to receive a performance boost thanks to a chip upgrade to the iPhone 17’s A19 chip. However, as was the case with the A18 chip in the 16e, it may be a four-core GPU variant. Once again, this rumour was substantiated in a leak, in which a downclocked A19 chip was mentioned.
Battery life and charging
A battery boost is rumoured, from the 16e’s 4005mAh to a slightly more substantial 4500mAh. It’s projected to support fast wired and wireless charging.
One of the big criticisms of the 16e was that it lacked MagSafe charging. Pundits expect this omission to be rectified in the new model, which is projected to be MagSafe-compatible, with charging speeds of up to 25W.
Sources: Digital Chat Station | The Mac Observer | MacRumors | GSMArena | The Mac Observer (2)
That’s all we know about the iPhone 17e now, but to see what we thought of the rest of the iPhone 17 line-up, take a look at our reviews of the iPhone 17 , the iPhone Air , the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max .
Author: Emma Rowley, Deputy Editor, Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor’s Deputy Editor, Emma has been a journalist and copywriter for over 20 years and has been testing and writing about home tech and appliances for seven years. She tries out every appliance she writes about at home, and aims to recommend time- and energy-saving products that will last.
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