Apple took a fresh approach earlier this year by introducing the iPhone 16e, effectively replacing the familiar iPhone SE line but integrating this new, more affordable model directly into the main iPhone 16 series. This strategic shift, moving away from the separate SE branding, has certainly sparked discussion and raised a significant question among Apple watchers and potential buyers: will this become an annual update, leading to an iPhone 17e in 2026? Based on current insights, particularly from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple itself hasn’t cemented its plans just yet.
The introduction of the iPhone 16e represented more than just a successor to the iPhone SE 3; it was a strategic repositioning. By marketing this slimmed-down version of the iPhone 16 under the current generation’s banner, Apple aimed to give the device more prestige, appealing particularly to markets like China where demand for competitively priced smartphones is high, without the connotation of a ‘cheap’ SE model.
This move appears to have paid off handsomely, as the revamped design and features, a significant leap from the previous SE, helped propel the iPhone 16e’s shipments and contributed to Apple clinching the top spot in the global smartphone market for Q1 2025, despite its $599 starting price not being its sole draw.
Despite this initial success, the path towards an iPhone 17e isn’t guaranteed. Mark Gurman reports that Apple is currently in a wait-and-see phase, closely monitoring the iPhone 16e’s market performance and sales figures before committing to a successor.
A key factor in this hesitation might be the nature of the upgrade itself. While the iPhone 16e benefited from being a major redesign compared to the dated iPhone SE 3, an iPhone 17e would likely be a more iterative update over the 16e. This could potentially dampen consumer excitement, as it wouldn’t offer the same level of novelty, possibly sticking closely to the 16e’s design and exterior aesthetics.
Should Apple decide to proceed with an iPhone 17e, expectations are relatively straightforward, focusing on keeping the device current within the lineup. It would almost certainly feature an updated processor, likely a version of the A19 chip expected in the main iPhone 17 series, to maintain performance parity.
Minor feature additions adopted from the iPhone 17 could also appear, with possibilities including enhanced camera functionalities like the Camera Control feature absent on the 16e, or perhaps even the introduction of MagSafe or broader mmWave 5G support, though these are purely speculative at this stage. If launched, the timeline would likely mirror the 16e and previous SE models, pointing towards a late winter or early spring 2026 release.
(via Bloomberg)
