iPhone 17e Is Coming But Will We See An iPhone 18e

Though the Apple iPhone 16e has just hit the market, insiders at Fixed Focus Digital indicate that the Apple iPhone 17e is highly likely to follow. Notably, Fixed Focus Digital was the first to suggest the “16e” moniker, while others—including us—had speculated that it would be dubbed the iPhone SE 4.

Sticking with the “1xe” naming convention makes logical sense. With the apparent discontinuation of the “SE” series, the 16e and any subsequent models are poised to fill that gap. According to a post on Weibo from Fixed Focus Digital, they noted, “I see 17e there. The digital e-series is not a passing trend.” Since the original post was not in English, potential translation inaccuracies should be taken into account.

This theory gains further support from forecasts made by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP). They state, “It seems that ‘e’ models may become a regular part of Apple’s offerings. Following the launch of the core iPhone 17 models in September, we anticipate Apple to debut an iPhone 17e around this time next year. This would parallel Google’s approach of releasing ‘a’ models in its Pixel lineup after the annual Spring introductions of flagship and Pro models in recent years.”

Given the similarities between the iPhone 16 and 16e, CIRP argues that the elevated price of the 16e is justified due to its offerings. At $599, it is priced similarly to the iPhone 14, which effectively distances it from other competitors in the market.

CIRP further elaborates that the iPhone SE only captured a “modest” market share, making it less lucrative than initially anticipated, especially when compared to the far more successful iPhone 5c, which existed for only one generation before evolving into the iPhone SE.

It’s likely that Apple will roll out the iPhone 17e to bridge the market gap left by the iPhone SE. However, whether the series will extend to the iPhone 18e and subsequent models will hinge on sales performance and consumer acceptance.