Cupertino, California, January 15, 2026, 11:57 (PST)
- A Chinese leaker said Apple’s expected iPhone 17e will keep a 60Hz display while adding Dynamic Island.
- The post pointed to an A19 processor and Face ID for the entry-level model, with a first-half 2026 launch.
- Apple has not announced a new “e” model, after introducing the iPhone 16e last year.
A Chinese smartphone leaker said on Thursday that Apple’s expected iPhone 17e will add the “Dynamic Island” cutout at the top of the screen while keeping a 60-hertz refresh rate, a specification increasingly seen as dated in mid-range phones. The post said the device is due in the first half of 2026 and would use a 6.1-inch LTPS OLED panel, an A19 processor and Face ID. Weibo
If accurate, the leak shows Apple tightening its product ladder again: modernize the look of the cheapest iPhone, but hold back a smoother screen that helps justify the jump to pricier models. That matters as phone makers chase upgrades with visible changes, not just faster chips.
Apple created the “e” line last year when it launched the iPhone 16e at $599 and pitched it as a lower-cost way into its AI features, while still leaving out some hardware found on higher-end models. “The new phone reduces the cost hurdle of joining the Apple Intelligence bandwagon,” Forrester principal analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee said at the time. Reuters
MacRumors also reported Thursday that the iPhone 17e is expected to move to Dynamic Island while retaining a 6.1-inch 60Hz display, citing the same Weibo leaker. The site said the model would likely follow Apple’s recent pattern of a spring launch for its lower-cost iPhone refresh. Macrumors
Apple’s current lineup already moved the other way. The company brought its ProMotion display — Apple’s name for up to 120Hz refresh — to the non-Pro iPhone 17 in 2025, alongside the A19 processor, according to Reuters reporting from the launch. Reuters
The iPhone 16e, announced in February 2025, came with a 6.1-inch screen, Face ID and Apple’s A18 chip, and went on sale later that month, Apple said. Apple
A 60Hz screen means the display refreshes 60 times a second. Higher refresh rates can make scrolling and animations look smoother, and many Android rivals have pushed 90Hz or 120Hz into cheaper phones to make upgrades feel obvious.
One uncertainty is the leak itself. AppleInsider noted that Digital Chat Station’s Apple track record has been mixed, and the post did not address other features buyers often watch in this tier, such as magnetic accessories and faster wireless charging. Appleinsider
For Apple, an iPhone 17e that looks more like the rest of the modern iPhone line could help keep budget buyers inside iOS, even if it keeps a few visible compromises. Whether that trade-off lands will likely come down to price and timing — and whether the “e” phone feels like a smart entry point, or just a deliberate downgrade.
