The iPhone 17e might not be as powerful as we hoped
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld reports that the iPhone 17e could launch within a week, with a “bundled” A19 chip that’s less powerful than the standard A19 processor.
- The device is expected to cost $599 with 8GB of RAM, 48MP camera, Dynamic Island, and improved low-light photography capabilities.
- While offering solid mid-range features, the iPhone 17e appears to make processor compromises that could disappoint performance-focused users.
The iPhone 17e, one of Apple’s most anticipated products for 2026, could arrive in less than a week. But it is unlikely that this announcement will hold many surprises, as leaks are now increasing.
Take the technical specifications. We’re reasonably confident that the 17e will feature most or all of the following: an A19 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of starting storage (up from 128GB), a C1X modem, the same 48MP rear camera as the 16e (although the selfie camera could benefit from an upgrade), a 6.1-inch 60Hz display, MagSafe support, and a price tag of starting at $599. These theories have all been pretty consistent for some time.
Even if these theories are all correct, there is still room for nuance. Like the A19 processor. Will Apple offer the 17th the same A19 as on the iPhone 17, or a slightly less powerful version?
Last year’s iPhone 16e has the A18, but it’s a “bundled” version of that in the iPhone 16; this means that Apple takes chips with minor manufacturing defects (fewer CPU or GPU cores) and uses them in its cheaper products. This is all done in an open and transparent manner (the iPhone 16e is listed as having only four GPU cores compared to the iPhone 16’s five for precisely this reason), but it means that what appears at first glance to be the same processor may vary in its actual performance.
Until now, it was unclear whether Apple intended to use the same clustered chip strategy with the iPhone 17e. But a new video from controversial YouTuber Jon Prosser confidently predicts (confidence being one of Prosser’s main characteristics) that this will be the case.
“Inside the iPhone 17e, you get a slightly clustered A19 chip,” he says. “Trust me, people who buy this phone won’t notice.”
The second sentence could end up being a self-fulfilling prophecy, of course… or a self-solving problem. Because more tech-savvy buyers who would have a problem with the performance of bundled chips will know about it and simply won’t get an iPhone 17e.
In many other ways, Prosser simply corroborates the widely accepted theories mentioned above. He agrees that we can expect 8GB of RAM, a non-ProMotion display, a starting price of $599, and more.
But there are a few other interesting elements. Prosser attributes, first, to the theory that the 17th will move from the 16th notch to the dynamic island. He’s not the first expert to suggest this, but it’s a prediction with far less consensus than others. He admits he’s not as confident about this prediction as the A19, but notes that Apple should be “embarrassed” if the iPhone 17e keeps the notch for another year.)
The rear camera will benefit from improved low-light performance, he claims. He expects base storage to remain at 128GB for $599 (this assumes I interpreted his “For $600? Uh-uh!” correctly). Oh, and he thinks there will be a third color option beyond black and white, which could be lavender, which was apparently in testing a few months ago.
This latest round of leaks is unlikely to make Apple feel better about Prosser, whom the company is currently suing for what it claims was a coordinated plan to steal and profit from its secrets. He denies the accusation.
For all the latest news and rumors as we get closer to launch, bookmark our regularly updated iPhone 17e guide.
