One of the questions raised by the iPhone 16e naming is whether it points to an annual update to the entry-level iPhone, with an iPhone 17e following next year.
A leaker who got early wind of the the iPhone 16e name says there are already signs that this may be the case, with a codename believed to reference next year’s model …
The iPhone SE was an occasional update
Apple’s previous entry-level phone, the iPhone SE, wasn’t updated on a fixed schedule. The original model launched in 2016, with a four-year wait for the 2nd-gen in 2020. That was followed by the 3rd-gen model two years later.
Having a completely separate naming convention for the budget model meant that Apple was free to launch new models as and when it wanted, without the name growing dated.
But the iPhone 16e could signal a change
But that’s changed with the iPhone 16e. Right now, the name suggests a current model, sitting alongside the existing flagship line-up. But come the September launch of the iPhone 17, the name will already identify it as a previous-generation device.
That’s led to speculation that Apple now plans to update the phone annually, with an iPhone 17e launching next year, and annual updates continuing beyond that.
This idea seems to have gained traction with a Weibo post by Fixed Focus Digital, one of the first to point to the iPhone 16e name ahead of Apple’s announcement.
A source shared a little information: “e model” is likely to be available in the next generation. At present, a new project code has been seen, which is suspected to be 17e.
9to5Mac’s Take
Top comment by BarelyLucid
I thought 16e would be a one-off to address a specific shortcoming of the iPhone 15 (no AI support, because they couldn't bring the A17 chip to market). But adding a 17e would signal a clear shift in Apple's strategy, which they've tried before.
Going back in time: When Apple launched the iPhone 5 in 2012, it came with brand new aluminum housing (Personally this was my favorite phone design). When it came time to release the iPhone 5s, Apple discontinued the iPhone 5 instead of discounting it. They instead released the iPhone 5c with a polycarbonate case at the price the iPhone 5 would have dropped to. My assumption is Apple didn't like the margins for the iPhone 5 at a lower price and feared it would steal sales from the iPhone 5s, which had the same design as the 5. With the 5c, Apple tested the waters on whether they could release a watered down version of their former flagship instead of carrying all flagship features down-market, where their margins on premium materials and designs would shrink, even as the hardware itself became dated. This didn't work out and they reverted their strategy the following year.
This desire to not carry features down-market was eventually realized with the Pro iPhones, which only live for a year. It would be hard to sell the iPhone 16 if the iPhone 15 Pro was still available but at the same price, and a 14 Pro below that at a lower price... If Apple releases a 17e, that will mean they are doing this again, but for the base iPhones.
The new naming convention does provide some basis for anticipating annual updates, though it should be noted that Apple has previously continued to sell earlier models, so the company wouldn’t necessarily be concerned about a visibly-outdated name.
The evidence provided here is relatively weak: a codename which is believed to refer to an iPhone 17e. But on balance, I do believe this is Apple’s current plan.
I use that phrase advisedly, however. As I argued earlier in the month, this is an experiment by Apple. As with the Plus and the mini models, Apple won’t hesitate to ditch its latest experiment if sales fail to meet expectations.
Photo: 9to5Mac collage of images from Apple and Matthew McBrayer on Unsplash
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