iPhone 17e to Gain Dynamic Island But Display Still Stuck at 60Hz

[MacRumors]

Apple's upcoming iPhone 17e will feature a Dynamic Island instead of a notch at the top of the screen, but unlike the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup, the display itself will still refresh at 60Hz, according to a known Weibo leaker.

Apple made major improvements to the iPhone 17's display last year, introducing ProMotion display technology with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, similar to recent iPhone Pro models. 120Hz maximum refresh rates allow for smoother scrolling when viewing webpages and improvements for video, but it looks like the iPhone 17e is not getting the upgrade to keep costs down.

In a new post on the Chinese social media platform, "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 17e will retain a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, but this time it will have a Dynamic Island. The Dynamic Island would add the interactive area at the top of the screen that displays ongoing activities, incorporating the camera and other front-facing sensors.

The iPhone 16e features a "notch" at the top of the display, similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 14. That's because the ‌iPhone 16e‌ is based on the design of 2022's ‌iPhone‌ 14, so it could be that the ‌iPhone‌ 17e is based on 2023's ‌iPhone‌ 15, which gained the ‌Dynamic Island‌ and a more rounded frame.

Reiterating a previous claim, the leaker also said the second version of Apple's more affordable iPhone will feature an A19 chip, replacing the A18 used in the current iPhone 16e. The A19 chip is based on TSMC's third-generation 3nm process, N3P, and is around 5-10% faster than the A18 chip in terms of raw CPU performance.

Another Weibo leaker has claimed Apple will use a downclocked A19 chip in the iPhone 17e. If so, aside from Neural Engine improvements, it would be roughly comparable to Apple's A17 Pro chip.

Meanwhile, other rumors suggest the iPhone 17e will gain a magnetic ring so it can connect to MagSafe chargers, which is not an option with the iPhone 16e. To cut down on costs, the device may also be equipped with either the older C1 or C1X modem, but no N1 wireless chip, based on leaked Apple code.

Otherwise, the device is expected to retain a front-facing 12-megapixel camera, Face ID, and a rear 48-megapixel camera. The iPhone 17e could launch as soon as February, as the iPhone 16e did last year, but it could come later in the spring. The $599 starting price is not expected to change.

Article Link: iPhone 17e to Gain Dynamic Island But Display Still Stuck at 60Hz

 

[MayaUser]

As it should since this is the cheapest iphone in the line up

 

[thelion7]

100%, it took Apple years to stick promotion on the standard iPhone.

We might not see promotion across the entire line for another 5 years minimum.

 

[Moukee]

As it should since this is the cheapest iphone in the line up

Meanwhile Android smartphones costing 149,-€ brand new where I live have 120 Hz displays (Nothing CMF Phone 1).

 

[UliBaer]

@$599 price point I predict dead in the water...

 

[Jarman74]

I’m a bit surprised as I was expecting the 120Hz refresh rate to be unlocked with a subscription.

/s

 

[Tripps9000]

Yeah I will just sit back and wait when this phone comes out to give my opinion on it

 

[Ctrlos]

Meanwhile Android smartphones costing 149,-€ brand new where I live have 120 Hz displays (Nothing CMF Phone 1).

@$599 price point I predict dead in the water...

You've got to remember that these are handsets Apple sells by the pallet-load to corporate customers where specs are not important and the cost a business expense. Comparitively speaking they actually sell very few of them to the average consumer who has been conditioned by decades of Apple's marketing to assume anything cheaper than an iPhone 17 must have something wrong with it.

 

[Nyx1]

$499 the best price no pro motion $599 for 256gb

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

60hz is a disgrace

 

[aespana]

iPhone's 60hz displays are just absurdly better than a Pixel's 60hz but even knowing that this is the lowest priced iPhone (which is still a lot of money), I just can't justify a 60hz theses days.

After testing a Pixel's 5 90hz and now a Pixel 9a's 120hz, there is no way I can go back to those 60hz. We live in 2026, even Androids much much cheapest have 90-120hz.

No thank you Apple

 

[rbbloom99]

If it can make calls, send text and get emails I will buy it as my new travel phone. I will have to buy it in Canada or Asia to get a SIM card tray to accommodate my multiple entries to Asian countries.

 

[tomtad]

It’s becoming clear the iPhone E is the previous years iPhone missing a camera.

 

[bluecoast]

As someone else on here has said, you can get a lot for your money in android land in the mid range - with a way bigger smoother scrolling screen than the iPhone 15s 6.1.

It’s hard to see how Apple can continue for much longer with its repackaging of phones from 3 years ago (and even longer with the discontinued se line) with so much competition there.

Looking forward to the 18e plus with promotion then (or at least 60-120 hz).

 

[bluecoast]

If it can make calls, send text and get emails I will buy it as my new travel phone.

Newsflash : you’ll need to subscribe to Apple’s ‘communication suite’ to unlock these features!

 

[ZackVLion]

I had an iPhone 15 pro that I accidentally dropped and cracked the screen. I didn’t wanna spend 1k on another phone so I replaced it with an iPhone 16e and I actually love it a lot more than the 15 pro.
The battery life is MUCH better (lasts all day) and it’s also a lot lighter so holding it while I’m laying in bed is a lot more comfortable.

Yes I do kinda miss the optical zoom cameras but I pretty much just use it to take pics of my cat so it’s not that big an deal. I know it’s only 60hz vs 120hz and some people say they couldn’t to back to 60hz but to be honest I hardly notice the difference. Yes it’s missing wireless charging but I’ve always just used a fast (20w) usb charger so that doesn’t matter to me either.
The new modem works great don’t notice any difference in reception vs Qualcomm in 15 pro.

TBH I’d probably get the 16e if it was the same price as the 15 pro (can’t comment on 16 pro haven’t used it) but the fact that it’s almost half the price seems like a no brainer for my use case anyways. Will probably upgrade to another e someday when I want to upgrade again.

 

[siddavis]

They’ve created this tiered structure with varying price points, but have no good way to differentiate the product.

Their mantra used to be they wouldn’t create or sell a phone that wasn’t a good user experience, yet lag the market on the primary interface.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

TC: The Master of Dripfeeding!

Imagine trying to explain to someone why this phone couldn’t have a 120hz display when Android phones a fraction of the price do, haha.

 

[amaze1499]

I’m a bit surprised as I was expecting the 120Hz refresh rate to be unlocked with a subscription.

/s

Dont joke about it. Soon to be reality. Or is it already?

Pro features turned on and off through firmware updates.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Meanwhile Android smartphones costing 149,-€ brand new where I live have 120 Hz displays (Nothing CMF Phone 1).

Apple uses much better quality screens with accurate colors and more. Those cheap phones also don’t have particularly powerful processors and often will lag.

 

[chmania]

In a new post on the Chinese social media platform, "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 17e will retain a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, but this time it will have a Dynamic Island.

It's quite interesting that a Chinese social media platform receives information about Apple products before the US media, especially considering that Apple is the most valued company in the US!

 

[UliBaer]

It's quite interesting that a Chinese social media platform receives information about Apple products before the US media, especially considering that Apple is the most valued company in the US!

Because the preparation for production and design is done in China, so the leaks appear there first.

 

[chmania]

Because the preparation for production and design is done in China, so the leaks appear there first.

Which means that it is not that secret over there... 😉

 

[ifxf]

Meanwhile Android smartphones costing 149,-€ brand new where I live have 120 Hz displays (Nothing CMF Phone 1).

They cover the cost by selling all your personal details.

 

[CATiNTHESTORE]

60hz as stupid as it is… in 2026.