Apple’s entry-level iPhone is getting Dynamic Island next year, claims insider

Apple is set to keep the low-cost iPhone (‘e’) in its lineup for a second year in a row. The SE, which was replaced by the iPhone 16e earlier this year, saw an upgrade every two years or so. Now, industry sources have claimed to have information on the spec data and release schedule for the upcoming “iPhone 17e.”

Apple to keep ProMotion from the iPhone 17e, expected to be priced close to $500

Reliable leaker and insider, Digital Chat Station, has stated that the next budget iPhone, the 17e, will be coming in Spring next year. It is expected to retain the modest $500 price tag, with an upgraded A19 Bionic chip.

Other industry insiders, such as Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (in his Power On newsletter), have also corroborated this claim.

The biggest upgrade, however, is said to be the final shift away from a notch-based display. The iPhone 17e is expected to come with a Dynamic Island pill-shaped cutout, similar to the more pricier Pros. Last year, the vanilla iPhone got the new screen style, and in 2026, the budget devices will also be getting their due upgrade.

One of the factors that will keep the iPhone 17e separate from the more pricier variants is potentially the absence of ProMotion. The $500 iPhone 17e is expected to come with a 60Hz display.

On the spec side, the iPhone 17e will retain the same 6.1″ display, will use a 12MP front-facing camera with FaceID, and will probably keep the 48MP sensor on the back, too. Of course, it isn’t known if this would be Apple’s “cheapest” iPhone next year, or if the Cupertino tech-giant has other surprises in store for next year, as well.