The iPhone 16e will eventually be succeeded by the iPhone 17e next year, as Apple is planning what appears to be a refresh of its low-cost model, and it is expected to arrive with internal specifications that are already found in Apple’s current iPhone 17 lineup. Unfortunately, even though the technology giant introduced the C1X 5G modem for the iPhone Air earlier this year, and is developing the C2, do not expect either of the two to find their way in the iPhone 17e, as an analyst has some disappointing news to share.
Instead of the C1X 5G modem, Apple will re-purpose the C1 from the iPhone 16e for the iPhone 17e to save costs
The latest research note from GF Securities’ analyst Jeff Pu, which was spotted by MacRumors, mentions a few specifications belonging to the iPhone 17e. One of those internals will be an A19 SoC, which is the same one found in the iPhone 17. However, bear in mind that the iPhone 16e ships with an A18 chipset, and while it shares the same name as the silicon found in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, it sports a 4-core GPU instead of a 5-core one.
We will keep our eyes open to see if the same difference exists between the iPhone 17e’s A19 and the iPhone 17’s A19. Pu didn’t mention the RAM count, but it will likely be maintained at 8GB. However, he did state that an 18MP Center Stage camera will be a part of the hardware. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, the iPhone 17e will not be treated to the faster C1X, and will feature the same C1 baseband chip found in the iPhone 16e.
Fortunately, there’s a silver lining in this, as Apple could bring its N1 wireless chip to the newest model, enabling better power efficiency, faster, and more reliable peer-to-peer transfers. Fortunately, having an older C1 5G modem is not the worst thing in the world, because Apple has already claimed that the iPhone 16e boasts the best battery life for any 6.1-inch iPhone that has been released so far.
With the iPhone 17e featuring a more efficient SoC, coupled with the N1 wireless chip, the device can last slightly longer than its immediate predecessor, making this attribute one of its primary selling points. Given that Apple is likely to retain the same design as the iPhone 16e, do not expect a dual-rear camera configuration, which could deter a large customer base. Then again, the $1,099 iPhone Air also ships with a single sensor. As for the price, we don’t expect Apple to budge from the $599 figure it stamped on the iPhone 16e.
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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