Apple’s next budget iPhone might finally look as modern as the rest of the lineup without losing its lower price positioning. New supply chain reporting points to the iPhone 17e keeping the same 6.1 inch OLED display used in the iPhone 16e, but with noticeably slimmer bezels framing the screen.
For buyers, that means the front of the phone should feel closer to the flagship iPhone 17 models while still landing in a more affordable bracket. Instead of paying for an all new panel, Apple appears to be leaning on a proven component and updating what users see first: the borders around the display. If you care most about how your phone looks in hand, the iPhone 17e slimmer bezels could be the real upgrade.
The panel itself is expected to remain a 6.1 inch OLED with a standard 60 Hz refresh rate. Behind the scenes, it will likely continue to use LTPS display tech rather than LTPO, which is what enables the variable refresh rate ProMotion feature on higher end iPhones. That means ProMotion should stay reserved for the rest of the iPhone 17 family, keeping a clear gap between Apple’s budget and premium models.
The interesting part is how Apple can offer iPhone 17e slimmer bezels without changing the core display hardware. Bezel thickness is mostly dictated by the frame, the internal layout around the panel, and how tightly the screen is seated in the chassis. If the original circuitry was designed with some extra room around the edges, Apple can trim that border and pull the screen closer to the sides without commissioning a completely new panel.
This approach fits with the way Apple usually treats its lower cost iPhone line. Instead of chasing every new spec, the company tends to reuse reliable parts that are already in mass production, then make focused design tweaks. In this case, reusing the iPhone 16e OLED while slimming the bezels lets Apple protect its margins, keep prices in check, and still deliver a phone that looks much fresher than older notch based models.
Design is only one side of the story. The iPhone 17e is also widely expected to continue positioning itself as the entry point into the iPhone 17 generation. That likely means a current generation A series chip, years of software support, and access to the same core iOS features as more expensive models, just without premium extras like ProMotion or the very latest camera hardware.
The big question many people are asking is whether iPhone 17e will finally switch from the classic notch to Dynamic Island. Some early leaks claimed that the budget model would gain both Dynamic Island and slimmer bezels at the same time, making its front match the more expensive phones almost perfectly. More cautious reports, however, suggest Apple may keep the notch for one more year to avoid redesigning the entire sensor layout and display cutout.
Moving from a notch to Dynamic Island is not just a graphic change. It requires a pill shaped cutout, new masking on the OLED panel, and a different arrangement for the TrueDepth camera and Face ID components. That means new tooling, revised modules, and higher costs. If Apple’s priority is to keep the iPhone 17e as the most affordable way into the lineup, the company might decide that iPhone 17e slimmer bezels alone deliver enough of a visual upgrade.
There is also the question of how Apple wants to separate its products. Keeping ProMotion and LTPO displays exclusive to the rest of the iPhone 17 range already creates a strong technical gap. If the iPhone 17e keeps a notch and sticks to 60 Hz, while the standard and Pro models pair Dynamic Island with ProMotion, buyers have a clearer choice between tiers.
Under the hood, the strategy looks similar too. The current iPhone 16e already pairs a reused design language with a modern A series chip, and early rumors suggest the iPhone 17e will follow the same formula with an even newer processor. Reusing components like the OLED panel and much of the chassis allows Apple to invest more in performance and long term software support, which is a big selling point for people keeping their phones for four or five years.
For anyone sitting on an older LCD iPhone or even an early OLED model with thick bezels, this update could be surprisingly compelling. You still will not get ProMotion or the kind of always on display behavior reserved for higher tiers, but you do get a cleaner, more modern front and the likely benefits of a very current A series chip. In day to day use, that combination often matters more than chasing every single flagship spec.
(via The Elec)
