According to a recent research report by GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, Apple plans to launch a new entry-level iPhone 17e in early 2026. Its core strategy is to balance hardware upgrades and cost control by reusing existing mature technologies to maintain competitiveness in the entry-level market.
In terms of performance, the iPhone 17e will be equipped with the same A19 chip as the iPhone 17. However, considering the precedent of the iPhone 16e's A18 chip having fewer GPU cores than the standard version, it remains to be seen whether the A19 will have similar differences. RAM is expected to remain at 8GB. To control costs, the model will compromise on network connectivity: using the C1 baseband chip from the iPhone 16e instead of the C1X first introduced in the iPhone Air or the under-development C2 baseband. However, the report mentions a highlight—it may be equipped with a new N1 wireless chip to improve energy efficiency and peer-to-peer transmission speeds.
Battery life may be a major selling point of the iPhone 17e. The synergy between the A19 chip and the N1 wireless chip is expected to make its battery life surpass that of its predecessor. In terms of design, this model will continue the design language of the iPhone 16e, featuring a single 48-megapixel rear camera. Regarding pricing, analysts expect it to maintain a $599 price point to ensure a price advantage in the entry-level market.
