Apple iPhone 17e likely to gain Dynamic Island notch instead of notch, but will miss out on 120Hz

iPhone 16E

• Apple iPhone 17e may launch globally next month with Dynamic Island design
• iPhone 17e expected to feature A19 chip and 6.1-inch 60Hz OLED display
• Pricing likely to remain at $599 or Rs 59,990, similar to iPhone 16e

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Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17e is expected to be launched in the coming weeks, replacing last year’s iPhone 16e. A leak now reveals that the phone will adopt the Dynamic Island design of the latest iPhones, with the display still supporting a 60Hz refresh rate.

The Apple iPhone 16e was released in the spring of last year as an affordable iPhone model, replacing the company’s budget SE lineup. Its successor, the iPhone 17e, is expected to launch soon, with speculation surrounding the device intensifying in the last few weeks.

While the official announcement from Apple is still pending, a recent leak has now revealed the possible launch timeline of the iPhone 17e, along with some key specifications, design changes, and other details.

Apple iPhone 17e: Expected launch timeline, specifications

Popular Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo has now claimed that Apple will launch the iPhone 17e in the first quarter of this year. This means that, like the iPhone 16e, which was officially announced in February 2025, the iPhone 17e could also launch next month globally.  Further, as per the leak, the iPhone 17e will retain a 6.1-inch LTPS OLED panel with a 60Hz refresh rate, like its predecessor.

However, the tipster adds that the phone will come with a Dynamic Island front camera cutout instead of the traditional notch, marking a big visual shift for Apple 16e, and aligning it more closely with recent mainstream iPhone 15, 16, and 17 series smartphones. Like these devices, the Dynamic Island notch on the iPhone 17e will integrate the front camera and sensors into an interactive area at the top of the screen, displaying live notifications and activities.

Further, the same leaker has reiterated that Apple will upgrade the iPhone 17e with the new A19 chip, replacing the A18 Bionic found in its predecessor. To recall, the chipset is built on TSMC’s third-generation 3nm process and offers up to 10% gains in raw CPU performance over the A18. The device is also expected to retain a front-facing 12MP camera and a rear 48MP camera. As for its pricing, the company could retain the $599 or Rs 59,990 starting price of the iPhone 16e.