**iPhone 16e’s Low Sales Could Lead to Early Discontinuation of ‘e’ Lineup**
According to reports, Apple plans to release the budget iPhone, the ‘iPhone 17e’, in February next year.
On the 27th (local time), IT media MacRumors cited a report from market research firm CIRP, stating that Apple is likely to launch the iPhone 17e in February 2026.
CIRP predicts that Apple may release an ‘e’ model annually, potentially taking inspiration from Google’s Pixel A lineup strategy.
Google has introduced an ‘a’ model in its Pixel lineup every spring, a few months after launching the Pixel flagship and Pro models in recent years.
However, if the iPhone 16e’s sales do not meet expectations, the ‘e’ lineup could be discontinued early.
Another IT tipster, FixedFocusDigital, recently mentioned on their Weibo that “there is a new project codename within Apple’s supply chain,” which “may be related to the iPhone 17e to be released next year.”
Meanwhile, on the 28th, three telecommunications companies officially launched Apple’s new budget model, the ‘iPhone 16e’.
The iPhone 16e offers three storage capacities of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, and two color options of matte white and black. The base price for the 128GB model is 990,000 KRW.
Additionally, it features the same A18 processor and 8GB RAM as the iPhone 16, supporting Apple Intelligence, with a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a 48MP main camera, a 26-hour battery life, and a USB-C port.