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The iPhone 17e is expected to be released in 2026 as Apple's next affordable smartphone. Although the company hasn’t officially acknowledged the follow-up to the iPhone 16e, information about its launch date has come out. A report suggests that the new device might be unveiled in February. It is anticipated that the iPhone 17e will have a design similar to the iPhone 16e, with speculation that the notch could be replaced by Dynamic Island being ruled out. A German magazine, Macwelt, shared the information about the iPhone 17e's launch date from unnamed sources. It is said that Apple is planning to reveal the iPhone 17e on February 19 (Thursday), which is exactly one year after the launch of the iPhone 16e. For reference, Apple introduced the latest model on February 19, 2025. This leaked date matches earlier leaks suggesting that the iPhone 17e would debut in the first quarter of 2026. Instead of hosting a special event, Apple might announce the phone through a standard press release.
The iPhone 17e is said to have only minor cosmetic changes. According to the report, the new phone will mostly keep the same look as the iPhone 16e, including the front notch that holds the selfie camera and the Face ID sensor. Previous news suggested that Apple might finally include Dynamic Island on a regular iPhone with this new model. The iPhone 17e is also likely to have the same single camera on the back. However, there might be a significant upgrade regarding charging. The report indicates that Apple will add MagSafe charging to the iPhone 17e, allowing for faster wireless charging. In comparison, the iPhone 16e had wireless charging, but it only supported the Qi standard at about 7.5W. With MagSafe, the iPhone 17e could enable charging power of up to 25W. Additionally, it is reported that the company plans to include the new C1X modem in the upcoming model, which was first introduced with the iPhone Air in September 2025. Apple claims this modem can provide twice the networking speed while being more efficient than the C1 modem used in the iPhone 16e. If the February 19 launch date is accurate, we can expect to see more information emerge in the coming days.
