A new leak says that the long-rumored iPhone 17e will enter production soon, at about the same time of year that the iPhone 16e did.
The forthcoming iPhone 17e has previously been predicted to launch in Spring 2026, roughly in line with the iPhone 16e's launch in February 2025. Now a leaker on Chinese social media site Weibo says that the new model very shortly going to enter mass production, in what may be around a week ahead of when the iPhone 16e did.
Specifically, "Smart Pikachu" (or "Wisdom Pikachu" depending on translation), says that production will begin after CES 2026 ends. That could still mean any time at all after January 9, 2026, but the implication is that it will be soon.
Production of the iPhone 16e started on about January 8, 2025. It was announced on February 19, 2025 and shipped on February 28, 2025.
Reiterated rumors
The leaker also says that the iPhone 17e will have a 6.1-inch screen, featuring a Dynamic Island. They further say that it will use an A19 processor.
Leaker Smart Pikachu has reportedly been accurate before with Android reports, but has no demonstrably accurate track record with Apple. Most recently, the leaker has revived claims that the iPhone 18 Pro will have under-display Face ID.
While that can't be confirmed until Apple's launch of the iPhone 18 Pro in September 2026, the new rumor about the iPhone 17e does fit previous reports.
That includes the 6.1-inch screen, the Dynamic Island, and the A19 processor. Those previous reports have also said that the display will not be a ProMotion one, as now on all other models in the iPhone 17 range.
Other leakers have also claimed that the iPhone 17e's screen will feature thinner bezels.
