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Reports Point to February Launch for iPhone 17e With 18MP Centre Stage Selfie Camera

Analyst notes indicate Apple is narrowing the feature gap by adding the A19 chip alongside Dynamic Island to its budget tier.

Overview

  • GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu now expects the iPhone 17e to arrive in mid‑Q1 2026, indicating a likely February window.
  • Reports say the lower‑cost model will match the iPhone 17 lineup’s 18MP Centre Stage TrueDepth camera, using a square sensor to support portrait or landscape framing without rotating the phone.
  • The handset is tipped to adopt Apple’s A19 chip and the Dynamic Island interface while retaining a single rear camera as a cost tradeoff.
  • Multiple outlets report Apple plans a split 2026 cadence that separates base models from Pro versions and a rumored foldable iPhone, with the latter expected in the fall.
  • DIGITIMES estimates total iPhone 17 series shipments at roughly 82–87 million units in the second half of 2025, reflecting Apple’s reliance on entry and value models to sustain volumes.