iPhone 17 Base Model Rumored to Feature Larger Display

[CharlesShaw]

Scrolling down to the comments section I expected some whining about the Mini but I didn‘t expect it to be the very first comnent😂

MR knows that size matters and inspires lots of engagement, especially on a Friday, so it's a win win.

 

[klasma]

People should spend their precious time getting over the long dead Mini

My 13 mini is alive and well, thank you.

 

[klasma]

I came to read comments about the upcoming base 17

Apparently there isn’t much interest in writing those.

 

[EugW]

Well, of course SE 3 didn't sell as good as SE 2 (whooping 14% at launch), since for most people it was basically the same phone as the SE 2 they already had. Most probably wanted to wait for SE 4, which turned out to be 16e, so it's not surprising to see some of the SE 2 crowd finally moving on to the only "SE" available phone in Apple's 2025 lineup - the 16e. 2% increase is very small. It just proves that the 16e is just bad value for money, too big and not really worth it for those who still use SE 3, or 12 Mini, or 13 Mini.

I see lots of handwaving excuses there.

Anyhow, since you didn't seem to understand, I'll explain. it. The point is the 16e isn't designed to generate huge sales numbers. It is designed to push people up the sales ladder like they've done with their September releases in the past. The SE was an odd one out, a vastly inferior phone, but bargain basement priced (for Apple). The SEs were never very good. They were just really cheap (for Apple).

To accomplish this, what they've done with the 16e is designed a much, much better phone than any of the SEs, but consequently have pushed it up the price ladder, bringing it closer to the iPhone 16. So now people looking at the 16e will also look more seriously at the 16, because there is only a US$200 price difference. The difference in price between the SE3 and the iPhone 13 was a whopping $370, so of course that would push sales of the SE 3. But it was still a crappy phone for its 2022 release date.

The did have the iPhone 13 mini, but unfortunately most mainstream users balked at the tiny screen size, especially since it was only $100 less than the iPhone 13. Plus the 13 mini had horrible battery life.

In contrast, the iPhone 16e has comparable battery life to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which makes the 16e one of the best iPhones ever made for battery life, and it has the same screen size as the iPhone 16. It also gets the latest SoC, OLED, and Apple Intelligence, yet costs $200 less. The 16e looks and feels like a modern phone, basically only missing MagSafe (which the SEs didn't have either but which can be remedied by a $10 MagSafe case) and the wide angle lens.

From a consumer standpoint, this line up makes perfect sense to me, the 16e is a cheaper stripped down iPhone 16 released in early 2025, to complement the ladder of the iPhone 16 series released in fall 2024. Sure pricing could be better, but that doesn't take away the fact that from a technical standpoint, the 16e is very good, and better than any of the SEs ever were for their time.

$599 Good - iPhone 16e 128 GB
$799 Better - iPhone 16 128 GB
$899 Better - iPhone 16 Plus 128 GB
$999 Best - iPhone 16 Pro 128 GB <-- I think this should start at 256 GB
$1199 Best - iPhone 16 Pro Max 256 GB <-- I think this should start at $1099*

*Even better would be to shift the entire ladder down $100, but that ain't gonna happen.

 

[klasma]

And for those who buy the E model (without Magsafe), I got you too:

View attachment 2523726

Too many cameras. 😉

 

[Plutonius]

When the phones get big enough, the S will stand for sherpa.

 

[klasma]

All this weeping and wailing about a change from 6.1 to 6.3 in. That's literally 2/10 of an inch. Most people wouldn't even notice such a small difference.

We started out with 3.5”. Little baby steps. Where does it end?

 

[klasma]

The iPhone fold moving for next year is predicted to have a 5.5 inch display when folded. If one wants a smaller phone, one simply doesn't have to unfold it. It will be a bit thicker, but it still might feel smaller in the hand. All one needs is $2000.

Those 5.5” are significantly wider than even the Pro Max, due to the different aspect ratio. It’s not suitable for one handed use, and in conjunction with the thickness it means that it’ll be heavier than a Pro.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Even if. Do people with toddler hands not deserve to ask for an iPhone that isn't a phablet? 😀

Sure, just as Apple deserves to tell you it isn't happening.

 

[thiscatisfat]

I see lots of handwaving excuses there.

Anyhow, since you didn't seem to understand, I'll explain. it. The point is the 16e isn't designed to generate huge sales numbers. It is designed to push people up the sales ladder like they've done with their September releases in the past. The SE was an odd one out, a vastly inferior phone, but bargain basement priced (for Apple). The SEs were never very good. They were just really cheap (for Apple).

To accomplish this, what they've done with the 16e is designed a much, much better phone than any of the SEs, but consequently have pushed it up the price ladder, bringing it closer to the iPhone 16. So now people looking at the 16e will also look more seriously at the 16, because there is only a US$200 price difference. The difference in price between the SE3 and the iPhone 13 was a whopping $370, so of course that would push sales of the SE 3. But it was still a crappy phone for its 2022 release date.

The did have the iPhone 13 mini, but unfortunately most mainstream users balked at the tiny screen size, especially since it was only $100 less than the iPhone 13. Plus the 13 mini had horrible battery life.

In contrast, the iPhone 16e has comparable battery life to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which makes the 16e one of the best iPhones ever made for battery life, and it has the same screen size as the iPhone 16. It also gets the latest SoC, OLED, and Apple Intelligence, yet costs $200 less. The 16e looks and feels like a modern phone, basically only missing MagSafe (which the SEs didn't have either but which can be remedied by a $10 MagSafe case) and the wide angle lens.

From a consumer standpoint, this line up makes perfect sense to me, the 16e is a cheaper stripped down iPhone 16 released in early 2025, to complement the ladder of the iPhone 16 series released in fall 2024. Sure pricing could be better, but that doesn't take away the fact that from a technical standpoint, the 16e is very good, and better than any of the SEs ever were for their time.

$599 Good - iPhone 16e 128 GB
$799 Better - iPhone 16 128 GB
$899 Better - iPhone 16 Plus 128 GB
$999 Best - iPhone 16 Pro 128 GB <-- I think this should start at 256 GB
$1199 Best - iPhone 16 Pro Max 256 GB <-- I think this should start at $1099*

*Even better would be to shift the entire ladder down $100, but that ain't gonna happen.

No you’re right, 16e is there to make the rest of the lineup look more attractive. SE used to be budget iPhone, 16e isn’t. It’s a boring overpriced and too large of an iPhone, as you said, made to make you look at the 16. They could’ve just not make it that big, and it would definitely be something I would consider buying.

 

[ab2c4]

No you’re right, 16e is there to look the rest of the lineup look more attractive. SE used to be budget iPhone, 16e isn’t. It’s a boring overpriced and too large of an iPhone, as you said, made to make you look at the 16. They could’ve just not make it that big, and it would definitely be something I would consider buying.

I keep seeing people say "the 16e is designed to push people up the sales ladder" or something to that affect but in reality I'm seeing more and more people walking around with 16e's now so clearly people are buying them and saying no to the more expensive models.

 

[svish]

Very small increase but will be good if both the smaller Pro and the normal 17 have the same size. With the addition of 120Hz, the non Pro model should be a very good iPhone.

 

[ab2c4]

I'd love a Pro Mini

I'd love a 17e Mini

Anything that is smaller than all their offerings now would be appealing to me.

I'm constantly on walks and runs ...it's hot here half the year and I'm in shorts..
I want the smallest and lightest iPhone possible, for how I use iPhones.

I would love to see another 5.8". The mini was crossing the line of being too small for me with my eyesight.

 

[iphoneMiniWanter]

"minor upgrade"? Base iPhone on 120hz seems like basically the biggest upgrade to the base model since it got the iPhone X style screen.

 

[turbineseaplane]

"minor upgrade"? Base iPhone on 120hz seems like basically the biggest upgrade to the base model since it got the iPhone X style screen.

2017-2021 called.

Incredible that in 2026 anyone is going to give even a shred of credit to Apple for finally bringing such an old feature to the full lineup.

 

[SactoGuy18]

They need to clean up their lineup. If they offered two phones - one smaller, one bigger (just like they did with 6S and 6S Plus for example), both phones would succeed. They have too many cooks in the kitchen, their lineup is a mess.

I do agree. The model lineup should be one regular iPhone, one iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max with larger display. Apple should not build a mini iPhone or even a plus-size "regular" iPhone.

 

[oldwatery]

Another cut and paste article about the next phone having a larger display. I think this has been on going since the 7th gen. This is neither a rumor or good journalism.

 

[iPay]

Here we go again. An even larger phablet. Will Apple really never again make an actual iPhone? We need a "Mini" model.

As they want thinner, they need larger for battery life.

 

[GoodWheaties]

Because they don't sell.

TIL that 10 million units a year means they didn’t sell.

 

[digimc]

TIL that 10 million units a year means they didn’t sell.

Just 3% of U.S. iPhone Sales in March Quarter Were iPhone 13 Mini Models

The 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini continues to be unpopular with customers, according to U.S. iPhone sales data for the March quarter that was shared by Consumer Research Intelligence Partners (CIRP). The iPhone 13 mini had the smallest share of sales of all the iPhone 13 models, and it made up just...

www.macrumors.com

The 12 mini and 13 mini saw some of the worst sales numbers in iPhone history.

 

[nathansz]

That’s a disappointment

There’s already plus/max. Why not make the base a bit smaller

 

[macbookj0e]

So to counter all those that would like a mini or smaller phone they instead make every model bigger every year. Damn.

 

[macbookj0e]

Just 3% of U.S. iPhone Sales in March Quarter Were iPhone 13 Mini Models

The 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini continues to be unpopular with customers, according to U.S. iPhone sales data for the March quarter that was shared by Consumer Research Intelligence Partners (CIRP). The iPhone 13 mini had the smallest share of sales of all the iPhone 13 models, and it made up just...

www.macrumors.com

The 12 mini and 13 mini saw some of the worst sales numbers in iPhone history.

Yeah you’re right but that’s compared to all other iPhone models. The mini’s still likely sold millions or even tens of millions of units.

What I can’t understand is they still make an iPad mini which I’d estimate sells less than the iPhone minis. What makes that worth the effort to update and continue selling vs the iPhone?

 

[nathansz]

not about Mini fans who still live in the past

My mini 12 is alive and well in the present

 

[TechRunner]

Given the size increase of the 17 to 6.3", even if Apple relented and reintroduced a Mini it would probably come in at 6.1".