Apple may not upgrade a major iPhone 17e feature — what we know

Apple’s e-series iPhones exist to offer an affordable alternative to the mainline phones, but the iPhone 17e might be reusing hardware that is a bit too dated.

In a recent report, Korean publication The Elec revealed that the iPhone 17e could use the same OLED display seen in the iPhone 16e. This display in question will primarily be supplied by BOE, which was the primary vendor for the prior model, while the remaining volume will come from Samsung and LG.

Apple's iPhone 16e was an impressive device for the price, especially the move from the LCD screen seen in the iPhone SE 2022 to the new OLED. However, while this was a new move for the e-series, the OLED display in question was the same one used in the iPhone 14. That's quite old for a piece of hardware for a new phone, but the report does indicate that Apple could make the iPhone 17e's bezels smaller.

While it's not a major improvement in a specs sense, it is a noticeable design change that The Elec believes Apple could easily achieve. The issue is that thinning the bezels often requires redesigning the panel circuitry beneath them. However, if the current bezel and circuitry panel are already designed with excess space, then it’s much simpler (and cheaper) to achieve.

iPhone 17e is likely to be missing this key feature

While it might have thinner bezels, using an older display does mean the phone will miss out on one crucial addition.

The report also states that the iPhone 17e’s display will continue to use low-temperature polycrystalline silicone (LTPS) thin-film transistors (TFTs) for its display technology. In comparison, the other iPhone 17s utilize low-temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO) TFT displays, which enable the variable refresh rate of ProMotion. As such, it appears as though the iPhone 17e will be the only 17-series device to lack this feature.

It's not just the display that could remain the same, as there are rumors that the iPhone 17e will use the same chassis as the iPhone 16e. On the plus side, we have seen leaks that indicate that the iPhone 17e could feature a Dynamic Island. There are also indications that the phone will be powered by Apple's A19 chip, so it could at least have some power behind it.

It is worth noting that, while the Elec has a proven track record regarding supply and demand, its history regarding specifications is less reliable. As such, it’s worth taking some of this with a grain of salt until we have a chance to see the phone in person. While Apple hasn't confirmed a date, the release is rumored for May 2026.

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