Apple is reportedly preparing an affordable iPhone 17e model for early 2026, featuring an A19 chip, Dynamic Island, and an upgraded 18MP front camera, marking a major shift from the iPhone 16e.
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| Analysts expect Apple’s iPhone 17e to bring its biggest budget-model upgrade yet with the A19 chip, Dynamic Island, and a powerful 18MP front camera. Image: CH |
Tech Desk – December 6, 2025:
Apple appears to be redefining its approach to budget-friendly iPhones as reports emerge of a new addition to the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup. According to multiple international media outlets, including India Today, the company is preparing to launch the iPhone 17e—a lower-cost model expected to arrive in early 2026.
The iPhone 16e, released earlier this year, was criticized for offering fewer modern features than the rest of the series. But reports suggest Apple is trying to close that gap. The iPhone 17e is expected to look and feel far more aligned with the main lineup, signaling a shift in Apple’s long-term strategy for its “e” models.
This move reflects an increasingly competitive global smartphone market, especially in regions where mid-range Android devices dominate. Providing a more premium design at a lower price point could help Apple expand its reach without compromising the brand’s core identity.
Early leaks indicate that the iPhone 17 family will introduce Apple’s next-generation A19 chip, marking one of the biggest performance jumps in recent years. While the CPU upgrade may be incremental, analysts expect the GPU leap to be substantial, driven by Apple’s growing investment in on-device AI processing, gaming efficiency, and advanced computational photography.
For a budget model to carry the same cutting-edge chip as its premium counterparts would be a notable break from Apple’s usual segmentation strategy.
One of the biggest criticisms of the iPhone 16e was its outdated notch design—out of step with the Dynamic Island introduced on higher-end models. The iPhone 17e is expected to fix this by adopting the Dynamic Island, giving the budget variant a more modern aesthetic and unlocking features like Live Activities, background app updates, and expanded widget interactions.
This change would represent one of the most significant design upgrades Apple has ever made in an “e” model.
Analyst Jeff Pu reports that the entire iPhone 17 series may include a new 18-megapixel front-facing camera supporting Center Stage, Apple’s framing technology for video calls. For users who rely heavily on video chat, social content creation, or group selfies, this would be a meaningful upgrade.
If accurate, it suggests the iPhone 17e may deliver camera capabilities far beyond what is typically offered in Apple’s budget tier.
While Apple has not confirmed the official launch timeline or pricing, analysts believe the company will follow its usual pattern. If the iPhone 16e arrived in February 2024, the iPhone 17e is likely to debut around February 2026.
In Bangladesh, the current iPhone 16e sells for around 75,000 taka, suggesting the iPhone 17e may land in a similar or slightly higher range—especially given the predicted design and performance upgrades.
If the leaks prove true, the iPhone 17e may reshape expectations of what a lower-cost iPhone can offer. By aligning the design, chip performance, and camera features with the main series, Apple is signaling a new direction: budget doesn’t have to mean basic.
The next year will reveal whether this strategy helps Apple solidify its position in price-sensitive markets—or pushes competitors to rethink their own mid-range offerings.