In summary:
- Macworld reports that Apple’s iPhone 17e may launch as early as mid-February 19th, marking an unusual Thursday announcement timing for the company.
- The device is expected to feature significant upgrades including 25W MagSafe wireless charging, next-generation C1 modem, and potentially UWB chip for Precision Finding.
- Apple appears to be establishing a twice-yearly iPhone release schedule with ‘e’ models launching in spring and flagship devices in fall.
Despite the company’s best efforts to keep its product launches secret, details about Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone 17e are circulating among case and accessory makers. One such source with knowledge of the matter indicates that the device could launch as early as mid-February.
Rather curiously, this comes precisely a year after the launch of the iPhone 16e. The 19th is a Thursday, which is unusual: Apple usually announces new products on a Monday or Tuesday, or less frequently on a Wednesday. Apple doesn’t share information about upcoming launches with case and accessory makers, but companies often use inside information to time their own releases alongside Apple’s. So while it’s possible that 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 a new AirTag last Monday and is rumored to be readying the M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros for launch in early February. As Apple is more likely to announce the new iPhone via 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 reportedly equipped with MagSafe (wireless charging up to 25W), whereas the 16e missed MagSafe altogether 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 also remain in this generation, with the Dynamic Island likely to be at least a generation or two away from the “e” section of Apple’s phone portfolio.
Rumors about the iPhone 17e have been circulating for several months. Most recently, The Information claimed that the device will be equipped with MagSafe, which now seems to be confirmed. It is also expected that Apple will incorporate the next generation of the C1 modem. The iPhone 16e also doesn’t have the U1 or U2 ultra-wideband chip for Precision Finding, but with the launch of the new AirTag, it’s possible Apple could bring that functionality to the new model
With the iPhone 16e and 17e arriving in the spring and the flagship models coming in the fall, Apple is establishing a twice-yearly release cadence for its iPhones. Rumor has it that Cupertino plans to shift the entry-level iPhone 18 launch o 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 on our sister publication Macwelt and was translated and localized from German.