It’s a big week for Apple. After months of speculation about new hardware arriving in early 2026, chief executive Tim Cook appeared to confirm as much in a social media post last Thursday, teasing that announcements would begin on Monday morning. While Apple hasn’t revealed what will be unveiled, all signs suggest a new budget iPhone 17e will be a part of the line-up.
It’s been a while since Apple gave its most affordable iPhone a refresh, and the rumour mill suggests that’s about to change. Reports suggest the iPhone 17e will be one of the devices launching this week, alongside a low-cost MacBook and iPad.
Leaks indicate the new handset could use the same A19 chip as the flagship iPhone 17, and finally include features like MagSafe wireless charging. If accurate, it would narrow the gap between the “budget” model and Apple’s premium phones. With the iPhone 17e expected to launch this week, I’ve rounded up all the latest rumours on price, release date, specs and more.
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iPhone 17e release date: When could the phone launch?
The iPhone 17e could be unveiled as early as today, after Tim Cook teased that Apple’s “big week” would begin on Monday morning. The company is expected to wrap up its run of announcements on Wednesday 4 March, when it will host invite-only, in-person hands-on sessions for the media in New York, London and Shanghai at 2pm GMT.
If Apple follows its typical launch timing, pre-orders are likely to open later this week, with general sale beginning the following Friday. Last year’s iPhone 16e followed that pattern. Pre-orders opened a few days after the phone was announced, and it went on sale a week later.
A big week ahead. It all starts Monday morning! #AppleLaunch pic.twitter.com/PQ9gM2Gl2r
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 26, 2026
iPhone 17e price: How much could the smartphone cost?
Pricing information for any iPhone is notoriously difficult to predict, with rumours of price hikes cropping up almost every year, only for new models to launch at the same price as their predecessors – or, in some cases, even cheaper. This time around, however, there’s been little talk of an increase.
On 8 February, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed the iPhone 17e will cost the same as the iPhone 16e, starting at £599 for the 128GB model and rising to £699 for 256GB and £899 for the 512GB model.
That pricing would make sense. The leaker who first revealed the iPhone 16e’s name last year has since reported that the handset hasn’t been selling particularly well, giving Apple even more reason to keep prices unchanged.
iPhone 17e design and display
Apple’s next budget phone isn’t expected to look dramatically different from its predecessor. In fact, it may look almost identical.
According to a report from The Elec published last summer, the iPhone 17e will feature the same 6.1in OLED display as the iPhone 16e, complete with a 60Hz refresh rate – the same panel previously used on the iPhone 14.
That said, The Elec later reported in December that the iPhone 17e could sport thinner bezels, which would help give the phone a more modern appearance.
There has also been some disagreement over the front-facing design. While earlier reports suggested the iPhone 17e could gain a Dynamic Island, similar to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max, a more recent report from Japanese site Macotakara claimed Apple will stick with a notch instead. In early February, the publication said there would be no Dynamic Island on the 17e.
Notably, design changes weren’t mentioned in Mark Gurman’s most recent Power On newsletter either. The iPhone 17e is likely to receive only minor cosmetic upgrades, such as new colours or slimmer bezels, with most of the upgrades happening under the bonnet.
iPhone 17e specs and features
Budget phones rarely receive huge design upgrades, with manufacturers instead focusing on internal improvements, and the iPhone 17e looks set to follow that pattern.
In early February, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed the iPhone 17e would use the A19 chip found in the iPhone 17, alongside Apple’s C1X cellular modem and the N1 chip, which handles Bluetooth, wifi and Thread connectivity.
One of the most in-demand upgrades, however, could be MagSafe wireless charging. The current iPhone 16e only supports Qi charging at 7.5W, but the iPhone 17e is tipped to gain MagSafe for the first time. If so, it could support Apple’s latest MagSafe standard with wireless charging speeds of up to 25W, rather than the slower 15W offered by older MagSafe accessories.
iPhone 17e cameras
The iPhone 16e has one of the most lacklustre camera setups in Apple’s current lineup and, based on the latest rumours, that may not change much for the iPhone 17e.
The current model features a single 48MP rear camera and a 12MP front-facing selfie camera. In September last year, Gurman said Apple was likely to retain the same rear camera for the iPhone 17e, which would be disappointing.
The front-facing camera might get an upgrade, but it’s not a certainty. A research note from analyst Jeff Pu claimed Apple could upgrade the selfie camera to an 18MP snapper with a square sensor and Centre Stage, similar to the one on the iPhone 17. That rumour hasn’t been widely corroborated elsewhere, though, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Best iPhone 16e deals
Apple iPhone 16e: Was £599, now £499, Amazon.co.uk
A big step up from the iPhone SE, the iPhone 16e features a vibrant 6.1in OLED panel, a huge leap forward that delivers the deep blacks and rich contrast you’d expect from a more premium phone. Currently £100 off, it’s real powerhouse too, running on the same zippy A18 chip found in the flagship iPhone 16.
“From more storage to a bigger display that’s OLED and high-resolution, the excellent face ID, ceramic Shield to protect the front of the phone, the latest processor, the all-new C1 modem, a bigger battery than in the iPhone 16, full access to Apple intelligence and more, you get more for your buck than ever before,” said tech critic David Phelan in his iPhone 16e review.
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