Apple Unveils iPhone 17e, Thoughts on the iPhone 17e, Apple and Low-End Smartphones

March 2nd, 2026
By Neil Cybart


Apple Unveils iPhone 17e
Thoughts on the iPhone 17e
Apple and Low-End Smartphones


Happy Monday. Apple kicked off its busy week by unveiling the iPhone 17e and iPad Air (M4). For today’s update, we will focus on the iPhone 17e. We will look at the iPad Air (M4) tomorrow. Let’s jump in.


Apple Unveils iPhone 17e

In the years leading up to the iPhone 16e launch in 2025, older iPhones that Apple had kept in the lineup at lower prices were grabbing a declining percentage of the iPhone sales max. One factor behind that trend was iPhone upgraders holding on to their devices for longer and then buying the best iPhone available when it was time to upgrade. This trend also contributed to the iPhone Pro seeing growing sales momentum.

The iPhone SE, Apple’s most aggressive tool to date for addressing lower-priced smartphone segments, was similarly

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