iPhone 17e will be Apple’s entry-level iPhone for 2026, and a new report has detailed some of its key features ahead of its official launch. The successor to the iPhone 16e will reportedly use the A19 processor previously seen on last year’s iPhone 17, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in the latest “Power On” newsletter. To recall, the iPhone 16e is powered by the A18 chipset.
Additionally, the upcoming low-cost iPhone 17e will support MagSafe wireless charging, a feature missing from the iPhone 16e. We don’t yet know the exact charging speed, but we expect up to 25W support, similar to the iPhone 17. Gurman adds that the iPhone 17e will also feature the latest C1X cellular modem chip as well as the N1 chip for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Thread connectivity.
With these upgrades, the key question remains iPhone 17e pricing. Gurman has shed some light on this as well, and it seems Apple will sell the iPhone 17e at the same USD 599 starting price as the iPhone 16e. This suggests Apple will keep the iPhone 17e’s price in India similar to that of its predecessor.
The iPhone 16e was launched in India, starting at Rs 59,900 for the 128GB variant, with the 256GB at Rs 69,900 and the 512GB at Rs 89,900. The iPhone 17e is expected to arrive in India at similar prices. If Apple maintains current prices, it could benefit from Android rivals in the premium segment seeing price hikes due to the ongoing memory chip shortage. With Android flagships getting pricier, buyers might be willing to switch to Apple’s affordable iPhone if it means stepping into the ecosystem.
With the iPhone 17e featuring the latest A19 processor and iOS 26, one expects the device to remain relevant for at least five years. The inclusion of MagSafe on an ‘e’ model is a welcome upgrade, finally bringing a key ecosystem feature to Apple’s more affordable tier. According to a Macwelt report, the iPhone 17e could be announced as early as February 19th via a press release, similar to the iPhone 16e’s launch last year.
