New Delhi: Apple is expected to release its iPhone 17e in the first quarter of 2026, by bringing its most affordable iPhone model into the annual refresh cycle along with the rest of the lineup. This next-generation model is teased to come with several hardware upgrades, potentially including the latest Apple Silicon chip, display improvements and an updated front camera. This upcoming rumoured iPhone 17e will be the successor to the iPhone 16e, and it might make some changes after launching in the global market. The iPhone 16e shipped with the A18 chip, the same processor powering the standard iPhone 16. And by following this pattern, the anticipated iPhone 17e is expected to adopt Apple’s latest A19 chip, which is used in the latest iPhone 17 lineup.
The A19 comes with the enhanced display engine, faster neural engine and increased memory bandwidth to support more advanced on-device AI capabilities. It also includes a latest five-core GPU that Apple claims delivers up to 20% faster performance compared with the A18. The iPhone 17e is expected to feature slimmer bezels around the display, resulting in a slightly larger screen area. While some earlier rumours hinted at the possibility of Apple adopting a Dynamic Island-style cut-out similar to the higher-end iPhones, the latest sources suggested that the company may retain the familiar notch design seen on the iPhone 16e.
Some reports indicated that Apple might unveil the latest 18MP Centre Stage front-facing camera sensor for selfies and video calling. First, it was launched with the iPhone 17 series, and then it was extended to the iPhone 17e as well. This updated front camera features a square-shaped sensor and a broader field of view, improving framing for group selfies and video. Apple’s Centre Stage capability uses this wider field to keep the subject centred automatically and improves stabilisation during video calls.
The iPhone 17e will ship with the latest release of iOS 26 out of the box, and it is expected to be iOS 26.4, which is rumoured to unveil a significantly upgraded version of Siri. This enhanced Siri experience is stated to be powered by the customised version of Google’s Gemini AI model, allowing the voice assistant to deliver more contextual and relevant responses, perform multiple actions across the applications, and interpret on-screen content. The iPhone 17e is expected to support the full suite of Apple Intelligence features that debuted with iOS 26. These include Live Call Translation, on-screen visual intelligence, Hold Assist for handling waiting periods during calls, and the latest Image Playground visual styles.
