The next generation of Apple's cheaper iPhone, the e-series, is expected to launch within a month. So many of you in need of a new iPhone may be wondering if it's best to buy that one, or shop early and get the current version.
That's why we're here to discuss the iPhone 17e — which has been rumoured to be launching in spring of 2026 — and the iPhone 16e, which arrived at a similar time last year. Rumors flowing up to now have given us a good idea of what to expect from the new iPhone, but we've gathered them all up here to give you, and ourselves, the best idea of what's changing and what's not.
If you need a wider perspective, see our iPhone 17e rumor hub, linked above. For the iPhone 16e, read our review or check out where it sits among the best cheap phones and best iPhones we've tested. But to prepare for the inevitable face-off, here's how Apple's 2025 affordable iPhone is looking like it will compare to its 2026 counterpart.
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e: Specs
iPhone 17e (rumored/assumed) |
iPhone 16e |
|
Starting price |
$599 |
$599 |
Display |
6.1-inch OLED |
6.1-inch OLED |
Refresh rate |
60Hz |
60Hz |
Rear cameras |
48MP main |
48MP main |
Front cameras |
12MP selfie |
12MP selfie |
Chipset |
Apple A19 |
Apple A18 |
Storage |
128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Charging |
20W wired, TK wireless |
20W wired, 15W MagSafe wireless |
Operating system |
iOS 18 (upgradeable to iOS 26) |
iOS 26 |
Water/dust resistance |
IP68 |
IP68 |
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e: Price and availability
We may be seeing the iPhone 17e launch soon, as Apple has confirmed it's holding an event on March 4. It's not said what will appear at this presentation, but given we'd heard about a possible February launch for the iPhone 17e, the timing seems to match.
When we consider that the iPhone 16e launched February 28th, 2025, then a launch this month for the iPhone 17e looks all the more likely. Although we don't know what will happen to the 16e when the 17e arrives.
Apple's only ever released one iPhone e-series phone to date, so there's no precedent for us to go off of. But going by the iPhone SE models that came before, we'd assume Apple will only officially sell one iPhone e-series model at a time, even if it'll be easy enough to buy a brand new iPhone 16e from third-party retailers and mobile carriers for a while to come.
In terms of price, Apple raised eyebrows when it told the world that the "affordable" iPhone 16e cost 600 bucks. Sadly Apple is not expected to back down and will seemingly keep the price of the iPhone 17e the same as the 16e, even in light of the public's displeasure.
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e: Design and display
It's rumored that the iPhone 17e will not be gaining much compared to the iPhone 16e, especially in the looks department. Both old and new e-series iPhones are thought to use identical 6.1-inch 60Hz OLED displays, and the same rear design with a single camera embedded directly in the back panel.
It was suggested at one point that the iPhone 17e could have a Dynamic Island cutout in the screen rather than a notch as the 16e has. But other rumors still believe Apple will stick with a notch for the 17e as well, meaning it won't be hard to tell the iPhone 17e apart from the other iPhone 17 series members.
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e: Cameras
The summary of camera changes for the iPhone 17e compared to the iPhone 16e is simply that there are no expected camera changes. That translates to a 48MP main camera on the reverse of the 17e (featuring optical-quality 2x zoom via pixel cropping) and a 12MP selfie camera on the front, just like its predecessor.
We had been hoping for an 18MP Center Stage front camera on the 17e, like we got on all other iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air. But while a Center Stage selfie camera was at one point tipped, it seems that upgrade will have to wait for at least another generation.
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e: Performance and specs
It's believed there will likely be an A19 chip powering the iPhone 17e, and we would have assumed that anyway since the iPhone 16e uses an A18 chip. These are the same chips found in Apple's non-pro flagship iPhones, so we should once again see healthy benchmark scores that outpace other sub-flagship or budget-priced phones.
Another important internal change will be the rumored move from the Apple C1 modem, which debuted in the iPhone 16e, to the C1X modem, already in use inside the iPhone Air. Apple touts the efficiency of its in-house modems compared to third-party options, so hopefully we'll see a power efficiency boost to the iPhone 17e as a result.
On the subject of power, we haven't heard any rumors about Apple upgrading the iPhone 17e's battery capacity or wired charging speed. But on the plus side, the 17e may finally get MagSafe charging (via The Information) rather than standard wireless charging as the 16e has.
This will open up users of Apple's cheapest iPhone to the huge world of magnetic accessories that have been designed for the past five generations of iPhone. It's frankly weird that Apple decided to skip this feature with the 16e, but it's good that we may see this fixed on the 17e.
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e: Outlook
Looking back at all the changes or continuations of features and specs we're expecting, it seems like Apple's done just enough to make the iPhone 17e noticeably better than the iPhone 16e, even if the 16e goes on sale after its replacement.
If you're currently rocking an older iPhone in need of retirement, or even an outdated Android, the 17e looks like it will be your first port of call unless you're confident in spending more.
If you have a 16e, then this is almost certainly not going to be a worthwhile upgrade, even if you wished you had a newer chip and MagSafe charging. And if you're using an iPhone 15 or newer, then you'll see little benefit or even some drawbacks in moving from an older flagship iPhone to a newer cheaper model.
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