Apple’s budget iPhone might get a significant visual overhaul in 2026, with the iPhone 17e ditching the notch in favor of the Dynamic Island, according to a new leak.
That would finally bring the modern Dynamic Island experience, which debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro, to price-conscious consumers. However, the leaker didn’t clarify whether we can count on Apple adding MagSafe to the new budget phone, a key feature left out of the iPhone 16e.
iPhone 17e ditches the notch: Major design changes coming to budget handset
With every new iPhone lineup, Apple must decide which features to add to which models — and which to withhold. Typically, high-end features trickle down to entry-level models in subsequent years.
That seems to be the case with the iPhone 17e, which will feature a “Smart Island” design, according to Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station, which has a relatively solid track record for Apple predictions. The “Smart Island” is seemingly a reference to Apple’s Dynamic Island, which replaced the traditional notch on higher-end models in 2022 and came to the rest of the iPhone 15 lineup the following year.
This would make iPhone 17e the final iPhone model to transition from the notch to the Dynamic Island.
Digital Chat Station previously claimed the whole iPhone 17 lineup would support MagSafe, though it was not 100% clear if that included the separately released iPhone 17e. And the leaker made no mention of MagSafe in the current post about the demise of the notch. Lack of MagSafe was a big drawback in iPhone 16e.
The leaker, citing supply chain sources, implied iPhone 17e will undergo design changes beyond the screen cutout. While specific details about the new industrial design weren’t provided, the changes could be departures from the current iPhone 16e aesthetic.
Display and camera specifications
Despite the supposed design overhaul, the iPhone 17e is expected to maintain a 6.1-inch OLED display, though it will likely share the same panel used in the iPhone 16. The screen will retain the 60Hz refresh rate that helps keep costs down for budget-conscious consumers.
Camera specifications appear to follow Apple’s typical upgrade pattern. The device should feature a 48-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with Face ID support. These specs align with what users have come to expect from Apple’s more affordable iPhone offerings.
Performance and positioning
Under the hood, the iPhone 17e will likely sport Apple’s A19 chip, keeping it in line with the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup. That’s a logical progression from the iPhone 16e’s A18 processor.
The leaker emphasizes that despite these upgrades, iPhone 17e’s primary selling point will remain its position as the “cheapest iPhone” option. That will maintain Apple’s strategy of offering a more accessible entry point into the iPhone ecosystem.
iPhone 17e ditches the notch: Track record and timeline
Digital Chat Station previously demonstrated accuracy with Apple rumors. They correctly predicted details about the iPhone 15 series camera sensors and the iPhone 12’s display panel design. However, as with all rumors from social media leakers, these claims should be viewed with appropriate skepticism.
Multiple reliable sources, including analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, and Korea’s The Elec, have suggested the iPhone 17e is on track for a spring 2026 launch, with some reports indicating the device entered testing phases in April 2025.
