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The iPhone 17e might not be worth waiting for – here’s why

AnyFans 2025-09-29

By James Rogerson

The iPhone 17e might not be worth waiting for - here's why

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The iPhone 17e might not be worth waiting for – here’s why

James Rogerson

29 September 2025

Apple’s next mid-ranger could be a more obviously budget option

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The iPhone 17
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

The iPhone 17e could be stuck with a 60Hz screen
It might also stick with the same single-lens camera system as its predecessor
However, its design and chipset might be upgraded

The iPhone 17 series has now landed, but one model bearing that number could still be on the way, as it’s likely we’ll see an iPhone 17e next year. However, if you’re planning to hold out for Apple’s next mid-range iPhone, you might want to reconsider.

According to Apple watcher Mark Gurman, writing in his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg (via Phone Arena), the iPhone 17e won’t come close to matching the base model iPhone 17. That’s in contrast to the iPhone 16e, which at least had a similar screen to the iPhone 16 and the same chipset.
But with the iPhone 17e you’ll apparently be stuck with a 60Hz display, rather than the 120Hz one the iPhone 17 has. The iPhone 17e will also apparently have the same 48MP single-lens camera as the iPhone 16e.

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The iPhone 16e was a compelling alternative to the iPhone 16 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
More power and a new look
So what will be improved? Well, supposedly it will look like the base model iPhone 16, meaning a Dynamic Island rather than the notch found on the iPhone 16e. And it will apparently have an A19 chipset, which could see it match the iPhone 17 for power.

Still, with an inferior screen and just one rear camera it might not be the most compelling of devices. But this is apparently intentional, with Apple said to be wanting to create more differentiation between the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17e than exists between the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16e.
That way, the iPhone 17e is more obviously a budget model, and the iPhone 17 could remain a better buy for people who can afford it – and want a lot from their phone.
Of course, none of this is confirmed just yet, but Mark Gurman has a superb track record for Apple information, so there’s a good chance this is accurate, especially as this matches up with an earlier iPhone 17e leak.

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We might not find out the official specs of the iPhone 17e for a while though, as while the iPhone 16e landed back in February, the only release date leak so far points to a May launch for the iPhone 17e.
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James Rogerson

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James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

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