iPhone 17e Leak Points to A19 Chip and New Design – But Still 60Hz

Apple is already preparing the next iteration of its affordable flagship, and leaks from China suggest the iPhone 17e could arrive as soon as next spring.

Following the iPhone 16e launch earlier this year, the new model continues Apple’s push to make its budget-friendly line look and feel closer to the main iPhone lineup.

The leaked specs hint at a familiar formula: a 6.1-inch OLED display locked at 60Hz, Apple’s Dynamic Island cutout, a 12 MP front camera with Face ID, and a 48 MP main rear shooter. Apple is also said to be refreshing the design, though early reports don’t detail how different it will be from the 16e. The biggest confirmed change is under the hood: the A19 chipset, the same silicon expected inside the regular iPhone 17.

That means, for many users, the upgrade path might feel slim – mainly a faster processor and a tweaked exterior. Rumors suggest other improvements like battery life or additional software features could appear, but nothing concrete has surfaced. Still, Apple tends to push small changes as major updates, and many expect the 17e will follow that same playbook.

The controversy stems from Apple’s decision to stick with 60Hz refresh rate in 2026, while much of the smartphone industry has long since moved past it. For some, this is a dealbreaker; for others, the appeal of Apple’s ecosystem outweighs display smoothness. Either way, the iPhone 17e seems to be shaping up as a modest refinement rather than a revolution.