The words Apple and affordable don’t exactly go hand in hand. On the contrary, when most people think of the tech giant, the first thing that usually comes to mind is that everything they produce comes with a hefty price tag. And they are not wrong. But recently Apple has been making efforts to offer slightly more accessible options.
The launch of the iPhone 16e was met with great enthusiasm from the fans as it was a step towards budget-friendliness. However, the phone didn’t quite hit the mark. It was “affordable” only by Apple’s standards and not really by real life standards. Many users felt that the loss of performance to the loss of price ratio wasn’t quite proportional—nonetheless, the efforts were appreciated.
Now, attention is turning to the iPhone 17e, expected to launch in Q1 2026, and anticipation is high once again. Reports suggest that the device will be powered by the A19 processor, the same chip featured in the regular iPhone 17. Combined with the familiar Apple C1 modem from the previous ‘e’ model, this setup promises reliable performance while keeping production costs in check.
Design changes in the iPhone 17 may be even more striking. Apple is rumoured to replace the traditional notch with the Dynamic Island, bringing the iPhone 17e more in line with the current design language. On the front, the device may feature an 18MP Centre Stage selfie camera, matching the regular iPhone 17 series and offering improved video calls and photography.On the other hand, the rear camera is expected to remain a single-lens setup, consistent with the iPhone16e model.
Hopefully these upgrades in iPhone 17e will come at a price that feels justified, otherwise this whole “affordable iphone” exercise every year is kind of pointless.
