iPhone 17e is in the works as a more budget-friendly version of iPhone 17, and according to a new leak, the launch timing could line up perfectly with last year’s iPhone 16e.
iPhone 17e timing might line up perfectly with last year’s iPhone 16e
In a new post on Weibo, leaker Smart Pikachu mentions several details about the iPhone 17e.
One of the most significant is that the new model will go into production some time shortly after CES ends.
CES is happening this week and officially wraps on Friday. Per the leaker, then, it sounds like Apple is expected to start mass production of the iPhone 17e very soon—perhaps in the next week or two.
For a model like iPhone 17e, which isn’t among Apple’s best sellers, it’s unclear exactly how long mass production might take. But for flagship models that launch each fall, that process usually spans around 4-6 weeks.
If iPhone 17e follows a similar timeline, kicking off production in mid-January could mean a late February launch. That would be right around the time iPhone 16e arrived last year, as it shipped on February 28 following an unveiling earlier in the month.
Outside of mentioning the production timing, Smart Pikachu also highlights several iPhone 17e features that corroborate prior reporting.
iPhone 17e will reportedly have:
- 6.1-inch display with a Dynamic Island
- A19 chip
- no ProMotion support
Overall, iPhone 17e sounds like a very compelling entry model. The iPhone 17 line has proven popular, so I’m curious to see how well the new 17e is received.