Is Apple Planning Annual Updates for the iPhone 17 Series? Find Out Here!

Shortly after the unveiling of the iPhone 16, buzz about its successor, the iPhone 17, has already begun to circulate. According to the Chinese insider Fixed Focus Digital, Apple is set to continue its new strategy of releasing an affordable model every year, confirming plans for the iPhone 17 slated for 2026.

iPhone 17: The Successor to the iPhone 16?

The iPhone 16, which replaced the iPhone SE 4, could pave the way for a new lineup at Apple. While the company hasn’t clarified what the ‘e’ stands for (it might mean nothing at all), it’s widely believed to indicate a model that’s cheaper than its siblings (though ‘cheaper’ at Apple doesn’t necessarily mean affordable, it’s just… less expensive), offering a way to own a recent iPhone.

According to Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo, a new codename has been spotted behind the scenes at Apple, pointing directly to a project named iPhone 17e. This leaker has a notable reputation, being the first to discuss the ‘iPhone 16E’ name change in December, while everyone else was still speculating that Apple would launch a new entry-level iPhone SE.

Similarly, according to the Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), the iPhone 16e is just the start of an annual cycle of a recurring series, set to release every February… “It appears that the ‘e’ phones might become a regular part of the lineup moving forward. Following the September launches of the main iPhone 17 models, we anticipate that Apple will announce an iPhone 17e around this time next year. This would mimic Google’s introduction of ‘a’ models in its Pixel range several months after the annual spring launch of its flagship and Pro models in recent years.”

A Long-term Economic Strategy?

With the iPhone 16e, Apple targets individuals who own older iPhones and want to upgrade their device without paying the prices asked for flagship models. Although this new iPhone lacks some features (Photo, MagSafe, millimeter waves, WiFi 7, etc.) found in the iPhone 16 and even iPhone 15 series, there is a specific target audience.

We’ll have to wait a few months to see if this marketing strategy can stand the test of time if sales confirm its success. Cupertino believes in it. That’s what analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks. According to him, the company might sell more than 20 million units of its cheapest model this year, making the iPhone 16e the most popular in Apple’s history.

Currently, the iPhone 16e is available starting at $719 and serves as an entry point into the Apple ecosystem, with a design inspired by the iPhone 14 and modern features, but without the hefty price tags of the Pro models.