Word on the street is that Apple is about to drop its latest budget-friendly smartphone, the iPhone 17e, any day now.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this new entry-level model is set to get a serious boost under the hood with the A19 chipset and it is finally getting MagSafe support, which was a bit of a sore point when it was left off the previous 16e.
Gurman also suggests that Apple is using this release to show off its own bespoke silicon for connectivity, featuring the new C1X and N1 chips for cellular and wireless tasks. Even with these internal upgrades, it seems the price is staying exactly where it was.
We expect the 17e will get a price tag of RM2,999, which was the launch price of the 16e in Malaysia, making it a solid option for anyone after a new iPhone without the eye-watering cost of the flagship Pro models.
If the latest leaks are anything to go by, we might see it as early as 19 February. Don’t go expecting a massive visual overhaul, though, as reports indicate Apple is sticking with the older design language.
That means no Dynamic Island for the budget crowd just yet, as the 17e will likely look almost identical to its predecessor.