Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld reports that Apple’s iPhone 17e could launch as early as mid-February, an unusual Thursday announcement for the company.
- The device is expected to feature significant upgrades including 25W MagSafe wireless charging, a next-generation C1 modem, and potentially a UWB chip for precision tracking.
- Apple appears to be implementing a bi-annual iPhone release schedule, with “e” models in the spring and flagship devices in the fall.
Despite the company’s best efforts to keep its product launches under wraps, details about Apple’s anticipated iPhone 17e are circulating among case and accessory makers. One such source with knowledge of the matter says the device could launch as early as mid-February.
Somewhat curiously, this comes exactly one year after the launch of the iPhone 16e. The 19th is a Thursday, which is unusual: Apple usually announces new products on Mondays or Tuesdays, less often on Wednesdays. Apple doesn’t share information about upcoming launches with case and accessory makers, but the companies often use inside information to time their own releases alongside Apple’s. So while it’s possible this is an educated guess based on simply adding a year to last year’s launch, it could also be backed up by industry rumblings.
Apple already announced the new AirTag last Monday and is rumored to be preparing the M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro for launch in early February. Since Apple is likely to announce the new iPhone through a press release, as it did with the iPhone 16e, it could theoretically arrive at any time.
One big change, but not much else
Our industry sources confirm that the iPhone 17e will address one of the main criticisms of the iPhone 16e. The new smartphone is said to feature MagSafe (up to 25W wireless charging), while the 16th phone lacked MagSafe entirely and used the slower 7.5W Qi wireless standard. The upcoming model will most likely continue to feature only a single camera lens on the back, and the notch will remain for this generation, with the Dynamic Island likely to be at least a generation or two away from the “e” part of Apple’s phone portfolio.
Rumors about the iPhone 17e have been circulating for several months. Last time, The Information claimed that the device would feature MagSafe, which now seems to be confirmed. Apple is also expected to include the next generation C1 modem. The iPhone 16e also lacks the U1 or U2 ultra-wideband chip for Precision Finding, but with the launch of the new AirTag, it’s possible that Apple will bring this functionality to the new model.
With the iPhone 16e and 17e arriving in the spring and the flagship models arriving in the fall, Apple is putting its iPhones on a twice-yearly release cadence. Rumor has it that Cupertino plans to move the launch of the iPhone 18 to the entry level or join the 18e in 2027. For all the latest news and rumors about this year’s launch, check out our iPhone 17e superguide.
This article originally appeared in our sister publication Macwelt and has been translated and localized from German.