Apple sits at the center of the latest iphone rumors as Macwelt reports the company plans to announce an iPhone 17e on Thursday February 19, citing industry sources and noting the story is available in English on Macworld.
The report says Apple would publish a press release on the Apple Newsroom website rather than hold a dedicated event, and that the 17e is expected to be a spec bumped successor to the iPhone 16e.
Rumors list four key upgrades for the 17e, including the return of MagSafe, an A19 chip replacing the A18, Apple’s second generation C1X modem replacing C1, and an N1 chip for Wi Fi Bluetooth and Thread.
Design and other specifications are expected to remain similar to the iPhone 16e, which has a 6.1 inch OLED display and a single 48 megapixel rear camera, and the report notes the U S price for the 16e started at $599.
Broader Rumors Covering Flagship Cameras Design And The iPhone Air 2
Separate leaks and analysis point to modest but focused changes for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, with reports saying Apple is not moving the front facing camera or the Dynamic Island cutout itself.
Instead some Face ID components are said to be shifted under the display toward the left side, producing a slightly slimmer oval Dynamic Island while keeping its expandability for multitasking and live activities.
The biggest camera rumor says Apple will add a variable aperture to the primary main sensor on both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, using physical aperture blades to change light intake and depth of field.
That change aims to improve low light performance and close up focus control, potentially reducing reliance on the ultra wide macro mode, and the reports note Android phones used variable aperture in the past.
Leaks also say Apple may keep the aluminum and glass hybrid enclosure introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro, and that improved thermals and vapor chamber cooling helped performance and battery life on recent Pro models.
Other expectations include an A20 Pro chip, incremental connectivity upgrades, and no arrival of a fourth rear camera Touch ID under display Thunderbolt expansion or Apple Deck support for this Pro cycle.
On the iPhone Air 2 Tom’s Guide reports plans remain uncertain because the first Air posted weaker sales than other models, and Apple may delay or alter the second generation.
Two development paths exist for an Air 2 according to Tom’s Guide, one with modest changes such as a new chipset larger battery and vapor chamber cooling, and another adding a new Face ID unit to allow a second rear camera.
