Apple’s 2026 iPhones: 17e Debut Imminent as iPhone 18 Rumors Heat Up
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As Apple fans look ahead to the imminent debut of the iPhone 17e this February, new rumors are already peeling back the curtain on the iPhone 18 lineup expected this September. Here’s what we know.
The iPhone 18
Previous rumors have suggested that the iPhone 18 lineup’s external design won’t change much from that of the iPhone 17. Some reports have claimed the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will boast new under-display technology, leaving us to wonder how that will affect the iPhone’s Dynamic Island.
Now, leaker Digital Chat Station claims to have inside information about the iPhone 18 range, saying the new models will use the same screen sizes as their predecessors.
Specifically, the report claims the following about the iPhone 18 lineup’s screen sizes and technology:
- iPhone 18 Pro Max: A 6.86-inch screen with under-display sensors
- iPhone 18 Pro: A 6.27-inch screen with under-display sensors
- iPhone 18: A 6.27-inch screen
- “iPhone Air 2:” A 6.55-inch screen
Each device is said to use a 120 Hz LTPO screen, with the two Pro models allegedly featuring new under-display sensors. Digital Chat Station did not claim to have screen sizes for the much-anticipated “iPhone Fold.”
The new rumor does jibe with previous reports we’ve seen about the iPhone 18 Pro. Well-connected Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also said the Pro models will boast under-display Face ID sensors.
Recently, Digital Chat Station claimed Apple is considering moving to a hole-punch-style cutout for the camera — a single dot instead of a pill shape. Prior reports suggested the opening would disappear completely, but those were based on the assumption that Apple would also have under-display camera technology perfected this year. More recent reports suggest only the sensors will be going under the display for now, with the camera expected to follow in the 2027 models.
It should be noted that Digital Chat Station has a hit-and-miss track record when it comes to iPhone rumors. They accurately predicted the 48MP telephoto camera on this year’s iPhone 17 Pro, and 120 Hz ProMotion displays for the standard iPhone 17, but turned out to be wrong about a smaller Dynamic Island.
The iPhone 18 Pro range is expected to be unveiled in September 2026. However, several rumors claim that Apple will split the iPhone 18 models, delaying the standard iPhone 18 until early 2027 alongside the iPhone 18e, and possibly the next iPhone Air. This shift would represent a major change in Apple’s release cadence, effectively creating two distinct iPhone seasons each year, which would help maintain sales momentum while also avoiding the need to pack too much into a single September event.
iPhone 17e
While the iPhone 18 is the long-term goal, Apple’s more immediate focus is on the budget end of the spectrum with the upcoming iPhone 17e. Digital Chat Station corroborates other recent reports, suggesting the new budget-priced iPhone will feature a Dynamic Island in place of the notch on the iPhone 16, but we shouldn’t expect any other improvements.
The iPhone 17e will debut in the first half of the year. As previously mentioned, the core upgrade is the screen: a 6.1-inch 60Hz LTPS OLED display. Although it only has a 60Hz refresh rate, it features a dynamic island design, an upgraded A19 processor, Face ID facial recognition, and the added advantage of being the cheapest iPhone available.
The Dynamic Island would offer an interactive area at the top of the display to show ongoing activities, while also housing the iPhone’s front-facing camera and other front-facing sensors.
The current iPhone 16e has a notch at the top of its display, much like the iPhone 14, since the 16e is not only based on the design of the older 2022 model, but also uses the same OLED panels. Since the iPhone 17e will likely be based on the design of the 2023 iPhone 15 — and probably also use surplus panels from that now-discontinued model — it would make sense that we’ll see the Dynamic Island come to the iPhone 17e.
The leaker also repeated a previous claim that the upcoming lower-priced iPhone model will be powered by an A19 chip, replacing the iPhone 16e’s A18 chip. That’s basically a given, though some rumors suggest the chip will be downclocked compared to the one in the iPhone 17.
Less consistent rumors claim the iPhone 17e will be compatible with MagSafe chargers and accessories. This was a conspicuous omission in the iPhone 16e, but it’s also unclear how many of these reports are based on speculation and wishful thinking rather than more evidence from Apple’s supply chain. There have also been reports that leaked code indicates the 17e will use either a C1 or C1X 5G modem chip, much like its predecessor, but that it won’t receive the new N1 wireless chip. That would be another unusual move, considering Apple designed its own in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip as much to cut its dependency on outside suppliers as to power new capabilities, but it may take time to completely phase out the Broadcom chips that have been used in nearly every iPhone until recently.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
