[HEADLINE] Apple Set to Unveil iPhone 17e With Flagship Features Under $700
[BYLINE] By Kim Su-ho, AX Content Lab
Apple's next-generation budget smartphone, the iPhone 17e, is expected to be unveiled on March 19. The announcement comes exactly one year after the release of its predecessor, the iPhone 16e.
According to IT industry sources, Apple is projected to officially unveil the iPhone 17e on March 19. On March 8, tech publication MacRumors cited Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reporting that at least four new features will be added to the iPhone 17e.
A19 Chip and MagSafe at This Price?
Gurman stated in his recently published Power On newsletter that the iPhone 17e will be equipped with the A19 chip, first introduced in the iPhone 17 series released last year. Manufactured using TSMC's third-generation 3-nanometer process (N3P), the chip delivers up to 10% improved CPU performance compared to its predecessor. MagSafe functionality, which supports wireless fast charging, will also reportedly be added.
Additionally, Apple's latest cellular modem chip, the C1X, and the N1 chip handling Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Thread connectivity are expected to be included. Design-wise, the device may feature either the same notch design as the iPhone 16e or the Dynamic Island. Battery capacity is expected to remain similar to the previous model at approximately 4,000mAh.
The price is projected to match the iPhone 16e at around 990,000 won ($700). While 300,000 won cheaper than the flagship iPhone 17 base model (256GB, 1.29 million won), significantly enhanced features strengthen its identity as a value-oriented device.
Meanwhile, competitor Google will unveil its budget Pixel 10a model on March 18 and begin pre-orders. Google has not disclosed specific product specifications. However, given that the teaser video's slogan reads "A phone with more storage, coming soon," storage capacity is expected to increase to 256GB. The Pixel 10a is likely to be priced at around $500 (approximately 730,000 won).
With premium smartphone prices hovering around 2 million won, industry observers are watching whether budget models priced under 1 million won can achieve commercial success.
[DISCLAIMER] This article was automatically translated from Korean using AI. For accuracy, please refer to the original article.