Is a cheaper iPhone worth waiting for?

According to leaked information, the iPhone 17e will have notable upgrades to Dynamic Island and hardware enhancements.

The iPhone 17e will feature Dynamic Island, but the display will only have a 60Hz refresh rate. Photo: MacRumors .

According to Digital Chat Station on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, the next budget iPhone model, expected to be called the iPhone 17e, appears to have few changes in appearance, except for a notable upgrade to the screen notch.

Specifically, the iPhone 17e model will have a significant design change, switching from a screen with a "notch" to Dynamic Island. However, most of the specifications remain unchanged, as the device still uses a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, a 12MP front camera with Face ID, and a 48MP rear camera.

If this information is accurate, the iPhone 17e will become the first model in the budget line to feature Dynamic Island and a new design, helping Apple expand its options for the mainstream customer base. Meanwhile, the company will maintain a clear differentiation with its high-end Pro versions.

However, the fact that a mid-range smartphone in 2026 still uses a 60Hz screen could be a major drawback for users who are accustomed to the smoothness of high-end models.

While the screen remains largely unchanged, the hardware of the iPhone 17e promises significant improvements. It is expected to use the Apple A19 processor – the same chip found in the standard iPhone 17 series.

According to data from Geekbench 6 , the chip in the iPhone 17 scored approximately 37,014 points. Meanwhile, the chip in the iPhone 16e only scored around 22,478 points.

In theory, this is a significant performance improvement. However, some experts believe that because the screen lacks ProMotion with a 120Hz refresh rate, the everyday touch experience on the iPhone 17e may not feel as smooth as the statistics suggest.

Regarding the launch date, Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17e very soon, possibly as early as February.

Source: https://znews.vn/iphone-gia-re-co-dang-cho-doi-post1619964.html