Leaker Hints at iPhone 17e Next Year as Report Predicts Annual Cycle

[chars1ub0w]

Exactly. I know the mini’s didn’t sell massively but they must’ve sold as much as the SE and ‘e’ is going to? How come the mini isn’t worth it if so?

The Mini is not mainstream. Most people want a big phone, basically big screens. But some of us also value size and weight. Never going to be the majority, so the Mini cannot sell in big numbers and goes on the chopping block relative to ROI with respect to its development cost. The cheapest iPhone has a entirely different purpose, it is to draw new people to the iPhone ecosystem with a lower price, the idea being that those new people will want to stay in this ecosystem and generate upsell to the expensive iPhones. I assume Apple has data on how many inexpensive iPhone users stayed in the system and upgraded. The Mini instead takes sales away from the expensive iPhones, if a Mini wasn't available, the Mini-buyer will opt for the next smallest screen available (presumably at a higher price).

 

[Peterrocks!]

Who cares? Where’s my M4 MBA? Saturday is already March!

 

[dampfnudel]

This is how they will get an e series to $499. Next February the 17e is released at $599, and the 16e moves to $499.

If the 16e doesn’t get discontinued. I think Tim likes the new $599 price ground floor.

 

[DownUnderDan]

They are trying to get SE users to reguarly upgrade their phones which is nonsensical. People who buy SE phones are not into tech, they just want a basic phone at a basic price. This and the price inceases might well backfire on Apple.

 

[cdsapplefan]

I doubt Apple 🍎 will continue to update the “e” model yearly as how will they be able to differentiate the e model from the base if they keep adding Standard things like MagSafe and Ultra Wideband. Apple wants people to be so annoyed that they wanna upgrade to the base model and send a extra $200.

 

[svish]

I definitely expect to see a yearly refresh from now on. Not much is going to change. Probably a new chip only. Don't think there will be new colour options too.

 

[AppliedMicro]

The Pro Max will be the only iPhone sold within a few years

But what about the Ultra?

Google
Pixel 3a, Pixel 4a, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8a

Apple
iPhone SE 2016, iPhone SE 2020, iPhone SE 2022, iPhone 16e

Apple
iPhone SE, iPhone SE, iPhone SE, iPhone 16e

2016 or 2020 were never part of the product name.

 

[cdsapplefan]

I definitely expect to see a yearly refresh from now on. Not much is going to change. Probably a new chip only. Don't think there will be new colour options too.

What would be the point of a yearly refresh if your only just going to update the chip? With the 16e Apple has given us most of the good tech like Apple Intelligence, A18 Chip and 48 megapixel camera. Only MagSafe and Ultra Wideband are missing and if they add those to a e model with a yearly update then Apple 🍎 would not have any separation/differentiation between the e model and the base models.

 

[SoldOnApple]

A 2025 iPhone missing MagSafe is a bit silly, so adding it next year would fix that.

 

[canyonblue737]

I suspected this the moment they dropped the "SE" name and added the current year's number. I doubt Apple would have named the phone "16e" if they only planned on updating it every 3 or so years because it would sound instantly dated to any buyer starting next year... this is a smart strategy to give 6 months for early adopters to pick the newest, best and most expensive models and then entice price conscious buyers who might justify paying $170+ more than the SE ($430 vs. 600) because they will get a "new, current generation" model with the 16e, 17e, 18e etc. Apple will leave the $300-600 range for Android or cellular company iPhone incentive promotions.

 

[canyonblue737]

A 2025 iPhone missing MagSafe is a bit silly, so adding it next year would fix that.

they won't. the implementation of MagSafe requires re-arranging internals and Apple LOVES to spread the cost of R&D of a new design across 3+ years and loathes physically changing a device any sooner because of it. So I expect 16e, 17e, and 18e to be MagSafe-less with only CPU updates and changes to the main camera.

 

[thefrost]

What else would you expect?

 

[SoldOnApple]

they won't. the implementation of MagSafe requires re-arranging internals and Apple LOVES to spread the cost of R&D of a new design across 3+ years and loathes physically changing a device any sooner because of it. So I expect 16e, 17e, and 18e to be MagSafe-less with only CPU updates and changes to the main camera.

That would suck then. MagSafe is easily one of the best recent iPhone features. You can get a MagSafe charging mount for any old car and your phone standing up on your dash is like having a mini CarPlay system. I haven't plugged anything into my iPhone for years, just been using MagSafe.

 

[Stug47]

‘The iPhone 16e features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch, Face ID, an A18 chip, Apple Intelligence support, a USB-C port, an Action button’

Here we are again with incremental updates that make no sense based on the demographic that purchased the iPhone SE.
I don’t want a new phone in a year. I want a phone that I can use daily for about four. I want features that make it easier and more convenient to use my phone. So while I welcome USB3C I do not like the fact that I am missing MagSafe and touch ID, and a size that lets me use it single handed.
I hate the stupid swipe up to unlock on a phone that needs two hands to operate, I have an iPad that wants that kind of attention, but get this I don’t need to do that because it has touch ID. I simply rest my finger on it and boom it opens, I can have my iPhone se ready to tap a pay terminal without even looking at it.
They even gave the iPhone 16e an action button an action button for one camera that has very little in the way of control ability with her using an external app why not just make that a touch ID button like on the iPad?

I just don't get why they are still butthurt about the under screen touch id. Hell make it a pro feature and I will drop £1200 a touch id capable action button.

 

[macbookj0e]

The Mini is not mainstream. Most people want a big phone, basically big screens. But some of us also value size and weight. Never going to be the majority, so the Mini cannot sell in big numbers and goes on the chopping block relative to ROI with respect to its development cost. The cheapest iPhone has a entirely different purpose, it is to draw new people to the iPhone ecosystem with a lower price, the idea being that those new people will want to stay in this ecosystem and generate upsell to the expensive iPhones. I assume Apple has data on how many inexpensive iPhone users stayed in the system and upgraded. The Mini instead takes sales away from the expensive iPhones, if a Mini wasn't available, the Mini-buyer will opt for the next smallest screen available (presumably at a higher price).

I agree with much of what you said but in terms of a new mini, surely just adding a new processor to the old mini chassis wouldn’t cost much? I know it’ll never be mainstream but either is the Mac Pro, iPad mini etc which are still sold.

 

[chars1ub0w]

I agree with much of what you said but in terms of a new mini, surely just adding a new processor to the old mini chassis wouldn’t cost much? I know it’ll never be mainstream but either is the Mac Pro, iPad mini etc which are still sold.

You have a good point. I'm sure the iPhone mini outsold the Mac Pro. The Mac Pro is totally useless at present, to keep it going, Apple must have big plans for its future. Nothing would make me happier than if they brought back the iPhone Mini and the 12" MacBook, both updated to the latest technology. I'd be happy to pay a premium for smaller, but powerful (not crippled) gadgets.

 

[macbookj0e]

You have a good point. I'm sure the iPhone mini outsold the Mac Pro. The Mac Pro is totally useless at present, to keep it going, Apple must have big plans for its future. Nothing would make me happier than if they brought back the iPhone Mini and the 12" MacBook, both updated to the latest technology. I'd be happy to pay a premium for smaller, but powerful (not crippled) gadgets.

Same, totally agree!

 

[canyonblue737]

That would suck then. MagSafe is easily one of the best recent iPhone features. You can get a MagSafe charging mount for any old car and your phone standing up on your dash is like having a mini CarPlay system. I haven't plugged anything into my iPhone for years, just been using MagSafe.

I agree, but again Apple is loathe to change the physical internal structure of a phone design for YEARS, let alone after one year. Fitting in the magnets would require redesigning the motherboard compared to just changing the main CPU or the sub board that has a camera on it. Now what I am sure will happen is many 3rd party 16e cases will integrate magnets in the case itself that will allow the 16e to attach to MagSafe style mounts because the 16e DOES have wireless charging.