Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17e is shaping up as the company’s most affordable entry in the 2026 lineup, but leaks suggest it won’t bring the premium upgrades many hoped for. According to reports from supply chain insiders shared on Weibo, the 17e will keep the same 6.1-inch OLED display capped at 60Hz and retain its Dynamic Island cutout. 
While rivals are pushing smoother refresh rates even in midrange models, Apple seems determined to hold the line with the budget-friendly e-series.
The good news: Apple is expected to slot in the new A19 chipset, which could offer a performance lift over the iPhone 16e’s A18. However, tipsters caution that the chip may be a binned version with fewer GPU cores, limiting its overall graphics punch
. On the camera front, don’t expect a big leap either. The iPhone 17e is said to stick with a single 48MP rear lens and a 12MP selfie camera, both supported by Face ID for secure login.
As for pricing, Apple hasn’t revealed anything yet, but the 17e is rumored to continue as the cheapest iPhone, potentially staying around the $599 mark of its predecessor. That still makes it a pricey choice given its limited hardware, especially when you consider alternatives in the Android space that offer faster displays and multiple cameras at similar or lower costs.
Looking ahead, buyers hoping to skip the 17e in favor of a standard iPhone 18 may be disappointed. Reports suggest Apple plans to phase out the base model entirely and instead debut a foldable iPhone in 2026, alongside multiple 17-series devices. If true, the iPhone 17e could be the last traditional “entry-level” iPhone for some time.