Earlier rumors have mentioned a mixed bag of potential iPhone 17e upgrades and features that may return and disappoint Apple fans. However, a new leak may have just confirmed some of the most important details about the upcoming budget-friendly iPhone.
iPhone 17e may get a Dynamic Island, a 60Hz display, and an upgraded chipset
Apple plans to upgrade the iPhone 17e display and include a Dynamic Island instead of the notch seen on the iPhone 16e. According to new information (source in Chinese) from the prolific Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station, the company will continue using a display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The display will feature a 6.1-inch OLED panel, and it’ll likely be based on the iPhone 15.
While that’s just a confirmation of previous leaks, Digital Chat Station also says that the iPhone 17e will feature “an upgraded A19 processor,” without clarifying the chip’s details. Earlier leaks claimed that Apple would use a downgraded version of the A19 with potentially lower clock speeds and fewer GPU cores. The iPhone 16e features a version of the A18 chip with one GPU core less than the regular iPhone 16.
Recommended For You
Set up for success
iPhone 16e. | Image credit — PhoneArena
While those details may sound as disappointing as ever, the leaker also said that sales of the iPhone 17e are expected to be far better than those of its predecessor. Considering that the iPhone 16e was among the best-selling smartphones in 2025, that would be good news for Apple.
Would you buy an iPhone 17e with a 60Hz display?
Yes, I just want an affordable iPhone
38.46%
Only if I find it at a lower price
23.08%
Only if its performance is amazing
7.69%
No, I’d look for an Android at the same price
30.77%
Of course, the specs of the iPhone 17e may sound disappointing to many. Numerous Android smartphones sold for much lower prices than even the cheapest iPhone feature 120Hz displays and more than a single camera.
Probably the most important iPhone of 2026
Considering that the smartphone industry is preparing for a significant price increase, mid-range devices may turn out more important than ever before, even for Apple. I wouldn’t be surprised if many people end up with an iPhone 17e and choose a less smooth display instead of paying the expected premium for a flagship device.
Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: