Apple iPhone 17e launching very soon – here are all the juicy rumours
Key takeaways
- Apple has sent out invites for a global 'experience' event for early next month. We're betting the new iPhone 17e will be unveiled then, along with a new iPad and a low-cost MacBook.
- The biggest upgrades could include a new A19 chip to deliver flagship-level performance to Apple's more affordable model, the introduction of the Dynamic Island and MagSafe support.
- It looks like prices may remain the same as last year, starting at $999.
Apple's doing things a bit differently this year for its upcoming product launches.
Instead of hosting a keynote event, it's scheduled a 'special Apple Experience' media gathering in London, New York and Shanghai.
When will Apple launch the iPhone 17e in Australia?
Those of us in Australia can expect news to start coming out in the very early hours of 5 March 2026.
While Apple hasn't specified which products it'll unveil, we're fairly confident the lineup will include the iPhone 17e.
It's similar to last year's timeline. Apple released the iPhone 16e on 20 February, so the beginning of March isn't too far off.
Honestly, this will give us just a bit of a buffer between all the upcoming phone launches.
Google's Pixel 10a is set to launch on 19 February, and Samsung will be releasing its Galaxy S26 lineup on 26 February.
How much will the new iPhone 17e cost?
Rumours seem unanimous that there likely won't be a price hike.
If that's true, you can expect the following prices:
- $999 for 128GB
- $1,199 for 256GB
- $1,549 for 512GB
When will pre-orders for the iPhone 17e start?
Pre-orders could kick off on 7 March or the week after, with the phone officially going on sale around 13 March.
This is all speculation, though. We should have more information when Apple officially unveils the iPhone 17e.
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What are the biggest iPhone 17e rumours ahead of its launch?
Apple may introduce the A19 chip to give the iPhone 17e a performance boost.
It's the same chip used in the base iPhone 17 model.
Other juicy rumours making the rounds include:
- The introduction of the Dynamic Island, an interactive cut-out at the top of the screen that shows live alerts and activities instead of the older notch.
- Adding MagSafe support, which lets you snap on magnetic chargers and accessories for easier wireless charging.
- A brighter display
- An improved 18-megapixel selfie camera, like the iPhone 17 lineup. It'll improve low-light photos and support Centre Stage. The square sensor lets you take landscape selfies while holding the phone vertically.
We're expecting the same single rear camera as last year, a 6.1-inch display and a 60Hz refresh rate, which means the display refreshes 60 times per second.
The standard for mid-range phones is usually 120Hz, so the iPhone's 60Hz screen feels a bit slower in comparison.
Check back in with us on 5 March - we'll be giving you the rundown of everything Apple announces.
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