The discontinuation of the iPhone SE 3 and the introduction of the iPhone 16e means that Apple has painted a very different picture of what it perceives its ‘low cost’ mode to be. The $599 starting price gives a ton to look forward to, but we have to admit that the company made some questionable choices regarding which features to keep and which ones to remove.
However, it is not like the iPhone 16e is going to be a one-off announcement because the technology giant is not going to wait more than two years to unveil its successor, at least according to a research firm. It appears that we could see the iPhone 17e much earlier, with a launch possibly happening in 2026.
iPhone 17e will likely offer the same price point, but Apple will need to rethink the iPhone 16e’s successor’s features set
So far, there is no word from any sources close to the industry or Apple’s plans that are aware of an iPhone 17e launch potentially happening next year, but CIRP, or Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, appears to have an idea. Similar to Google’s mid-rangers that feature an ‘a’ at the end of the model name, Apple seems to be following a similar route, but on this occasion, users are getting flagship-level hardware without having to part ways with large sums of money.
“It appears that “e” phones may be part of the program going forward. Following the core iPhone 17 model launches in September, we expect Apple to announce an iPhone 17e around this time next year. That would mimic Google's introduction of “a” models in its Pixel line months after the annual Spring launch of their flagship and Pro models in recent years.”
The iPhone 16e is estimated to ship around 22 million units in 2025, translating a minimum of $13 billion in revenue for Apple over a release that is made up of components that were already used in previously released products and are being re-purposed for a fresh device. This business practice not only helps Apple to scale its earnings but also reduces its manufacturing costs. We do not see the company deviating from the $599 price point for the iPhone 17e, but we do hope to see the C2 being a part of its innards. As it so happens, Apple is already testing its new custom 5G modem, and hopefully, it will arrive with mmWave support.
News Source: CIRP
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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