The Benefits of Holding Out for the iPhone 17e

On paper, the iPhone 16e makes a lot of sense. It gives you a modern 6.1-inch OLED display, strong everyday performance with Apple’s A18 chip, solid battery life, and a starting price of $599. For many people, that sounds like the perfect balance between price and performance.

And to be honest, it’s still a good deal in 2026. If you just bought it, you have a fantastic device that will work flawlessly for years to come. On the other hand, if you’re not sure if you should buy it, we’re here to tell you the timing isn’t the best.

The iPhone 16e is in a tricky spot right now. It’s still priced as Apple’s current budget model, yet multiple credible reports suggest its successor, the long-awaited iPhone 17e, is right around the corner. If that’s true — and there’s every reason to believe it is — then buying the iPhone 16e today means paying full price for a phone that’s about to be replaced.

When Apple release a new iPhone, the value of the older model tends to drop very quickly. That said, we’re not saying you should wait endlessly for the next new device to drop, but it’s important to buy smart.

A New Model Is Likely Coming Any Day

Apple surprised everyone last year when it introduced the iPhone 16e, ushering in a new class of budget-friendly iPhones. While Apple had previously launched three very affordable iPhone SE models, the iPhone 16e changed the game by bringing a more modern look and powerful internals at a more wallet-friendly price.

The iPhone 16e launched early in 2025 — a similar release window to that of the iPhone SE models before it. Because of this, many rumors and speculations point out that Apple is set to refresh its more affordable iPhone models pretty soon.

Apple has sent out invites for a special media event on March 4, and reliable reports suggest we can expect a “flurry of new products” next week. Combined with other leaks consistently pointing to an early spring launch for the iPhone 17e, it’s safe to say we could see the new model land any day now.

The timing also lines up wite Apple’s usual strategy of quietly updating its lower-cost lineup before its main September event, which is reserved for the more modern and new iPhone models.

If the iPhone 17e does arrive in early March, that means the 16e is effectively at the end of its cycle. Buying a phone at the end of its life cycle is almost always the worst time to do it, especially when the replacement is expected to cost roughly the same.

That matters for resale value, long-term support perception, and simple peace of mind. If you can wait even a few weeks, you’ll get the newer model for the same money — or last year’s model at a discount.

The iPhone 17e Is Expected to Fix Key Weak Points

One of the strongest rumors surrounding the iPhone 17e is the return of MagSafe support. If that happens, it immediately removes one of the iPhone 16e’s biggest compromises.

MagSafe improves wireless charging speeds with 15W or 25W charging, and also helps with reliability and efficiency because the phone snaps perfectly into alignment every time. It also unlocks an entire ecosystem of accessories Apple has spent years building. Those also aren’t a gimmick anymore; they’re integrated into how people mount, charge, and carry their iPhones daily.

This change basically means that you can add a wallet, a battery pack, or even a phone stand to your iPhone with nothing but a magnet — a huge upgrade that makes the newer iPhones more comfortable and convenient to use.

Performance is also expected to improve. The iPhone 17e will almost certainly adopt Apple’s newest A19 chip. Even if you don’t care about benchmark scores, newer chips typically deliver better power efficiency. That translates into improved battery life and stronger long-term software performance.

When you buy a budget phone, longevity matters more than raw speed. And a newer chip usually means the phone runs smoother for a longer period of time. If the iPhone 17e launches at the same $599 starting price with those upgrades, the older model immediately looks like a bad investment, especially if you don’t plan to buy another iPhone for the next few years.

The Display Experience May Get A Subtle But Meaningful Upgrade, Too

The iPhone 16e uses a traditional notch design and lacks features like Dynamic Island that have become standard across Apple’s higher-end models. While that doesn’t break the experience, it does make the phone feel slightly behind the curve compared to the rest of the lineup. Plus, no one really likes a big notch at the top of the iPhone anymore.

While the most recent reports suggest Apple is likely to stick with the notch, we won’t know for sure until we see it. However, the iPhone 17e is still likely to gain at least some display improvements such as higher peak brightness, which can make a noticeable difference outdoors.

Display upgrades rarely sound dramatic in leaks, but they affect how a phone feels every time you pick it up. If Apple modernizes the iPhone 17e even slightly, it will make the 16e feel more obviously like the older sibling.

Future Software Features Will Work Better on Newer Hardware

Apple continues to expand Apple Intelligence and other AI-driven features across iOS. While the iPhone 16e supports current features, newer hardware tends to age better as Apple upgrades its software.

The difference might not be that big, but honestly, we don’t know for sure. For instance, on paper, there shouldn’t be that big of a difference between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 in the software department. But Apple made sure that the base 15 models don’t support Apple Intelligence. Of course, not everyone likes AI, and Apple Intelligence has had its growing pains.