Apple expected to launch iPhone 17e in February 2026, analyst: new models 'part of the program'

Apple only just launched its new iPhone 16e with is first in-house 5G modem, and it seems like the "e" series iPhones will continue with the iPhone 17e in 2026 with a next-gen C3 modem.

2

Apple isn't the type of company to have a one-time release like the iPhone 16e, spend the millions in marketing it, debut it as the first iPhone with its new in-house C1 modem... to never have a successor. It looks like Apple will have the next-gen iPhone 17e released at the same time of 2026, with the iPhone 16e announced last week, we don't even have a year to wait.

In a new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, or CIRP, thinks we'll see the iPhone 17e happen sooner, rather than later: "It appears that "e" phones may be part of the program going forward. Following the core iPhone 17 model launches in September, we expect Apple to announce an iPhone 17e around this time next year. That would mimic Google's introduction of "a" models in its Pixel line months after the annual Spring launch of their flagship and Pro models in recent years".

Apple is expected to ship around 22 million iPhone 16e units in 2025, which will result in around $13.5 billion of revenue for the company. The new iPhone 16e is a mish-mash of components that Apple already uses in its current fleet of iPhones, but they're re-purposed into a new handset.

• Read more: This is our best look at Apple's iPhone 17 Air: same camera bar on the back
• Read more: Apple's next-gen C3 5G modem rumor: 2027, same year its licensing agreement ends with Qualcomm

The super-cheap $599 price tag on the iPhone 16e is another huge thing going for it, as it'll be an easy transition for iPhone users from a few generations ago being able to upgrade without spending thousands of dollars. Inside, the iPhone 16e also uses an in-house C1 modem which is 5G-capable, while the 5G licensing agreement that Apple has with Qualcomm ends in 2027, which is when we'll see the next-gen C3 modem.