iPhone 17e Is Coming Soon: Everything Apple Might Change

Let’s rewind for a second. Remember the absolute roasting session the iPhone 16e got last year? Tech reviewers, YouTubers, and even regular users had a lot to say about it. People complained about the notch, the 60Hz display, and the missing MagSafe magnets that made a lot of accessories useless.

Despite all the criticism, the iPhone 16e went on to become one of the best-selling phones on the planet. Turns out, most buyers didn’t really care about refresh rates or design debates. The masses just wanted a new iPhone that didn’t cost a lakh rupees.

Now fast forward to today, and the internet is full of leaks about the iPhone 17e. And if those leaks are even partially true, Apple might finally be fixing some of the things people complained about.

Apple’s Classic Strategy

If you’ve followed Apple for a while, you probably know their favorite trick. Sometimes they release a phone that feels a bit outdated, and then the next version arrives with small improvements that suddenly feel like a huge upgrade.

So the big question now is simple: Did Apple actually fix the problems from the iPhone 16e with the upcoming iPhone 17e?

iPhone 17e Launch Timeline

According to recent reports, Apple has scheduled a March 4 event, which is expected to include the launch of the new iPhone 17e.

The iPhone 16e launched earlier in the year, and Apple often keeps a similar release window for its affordable iPhone models. So if the leaks are accurate, we might see the official reveal very soon.

Possible Design Changes

One of the first things people noticed in the leaks is a potential new color option.

Apple may introduce a purple variant, which many users loved back in the iPhone 12 lineup. If they bring back a similar shade, it could easily become one of the most popular color choices again.

There are two conflicting rumors floating around right now. Some reports say Apple will finally replace the notch with the Dynamic Island, making the 17e look more modern. Other leaks claim Apple might keep the notch to maintain a design difference between the budget and premium models.

MagSafe Magnets Might Return

One of the biggest criticisms of the iPhone 16e was the lack of MagSafe magnets.

Without them, users couldn’t properly use MagSafe wallets, wireless power banks, or accessories. For many people, that was a surprisingly big downgrade.

The good news is that leaks suggest MagSafe will return on the iPhone 17e, and not just the old version. Reports mention the newer MagSafe G2 system with up to 25W wireless charging.

If this turns out to be true, it would immediately make the 17e much more compatible with Apple’s accessory ecosystem.

Camera Changes

The rear camera is expected to remain mostly the same.

Leaks suggest the iPhone 17e will continue using a single 48MP main sensor, similar to the one on the previous model. Apple might improve image processing slightly, but don’t expect a major hardware upgrade here.

The bigger improvement could come on the front.

Some rumors claim the phone may get a new 18MP selfie camera, similar to the one expected in the flagship iPhone 17 lineup, along with features like Center Stage.

However, there are also reports suggesting Apple might stick with the older 12MP front camera. So at this point, the final decision is still unclear.

Display: The Same Old 60Hz?

Now let’s talk about something that Apple fans have debated for years. The display refresh rate.

Leaks indicate that the iPhone 17e will still come with a 60Hz display, just like the iPhone 16e. Apple tends to reserve 120Hz ProMotion for its Pro models, and historically the company has been very slow to bring higher refresh rates to its base devices.

So if you were hoping for a 120Hz screen here, you might have to wait a bit longer.

Performance Upgrade: A19 Chip

Performance is one area where Apple almost always upgrades its devices.

The iPhone 17e is expected to run on the Apple A19 chip, which will also power the iPhone 17 lineup. This version might be slightly cut down with fewer GPU cores, but it should still deliver excellent performance for everyday tasks and gaming.

The phone will likely continue with 8GB of RAM, which means Apple Intelligence features should work without issues.

Storage will probably start at 128GB, although many users are hoping Apple finally makes 256GB the base option.

New Modem and Battery Efficiency

Another expected upgrade is the modem.

The iPhone 16e used Apple’s C1 modem, and leaks suggest the iPhone 17e could feature an updated C1X modem. Apple has been focusing heavily on efficiency improvements with its modem designs.

That could translate to better battery life, even if the battery size remains roughly the same.

Extra Connectivity Improvements

Another feature that might return is the Ultra Wideband chip.

This chip allows precise tracking of accessories like AirTags and improves device-to-device connectivity. Surprisingly, the iPhone 16e didn’t include this feature, but leaks suggest it could return in the iPhone 17e.

If that happens, it would make the device more useful inside Apple’s ecosystem.

iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16

The biggest upgrades appear to be the new chip, MagSafe support, and modem improvements.

Should You Wait for the iPhone 17e?

If the second set of leaks turns out to be true, especially the Dynamic Island and improved selfie camera, the iPhone 17e could become a much stronger option in its price segment.

However, if Apple keeps the notch and older camera hardware, the difference between the iPhone 16e and 17e might not feel huge.

But if there’s one thing the iPhone 16e taught us, it’s this: millions of people will probably buy it anyway.

FAQs