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Apple's iPhone 17E Is Near and It Needs More Than MagSafe

The launch of the next $600 iPhone might not follow last year's playbook.

Headshot of Bridget Carey
Headshot of Bridget Carey
Bridget Carey Editor at Large
Bridget Carey is an award-winning reporter who helps you level-up your life -- while having a good time geeking out. Her exclusive CNET videos get you behind the scenes as she covers new trends, experiences and quirky gadgets. Her weekly video show, "One More Thing," explores what's new in the world of Apple and what's to come. She started as a reporter at The Miami Herald with syndicated newspaper columns for product reviews and social media advice. Now she's a mom who also stays on top of toy industry trends and robots. (Kids love robots.)
Expertise Consumer technology | Apple | Google | Samsung | Microsoft | Amazon | Meta | Social media | Mobile | Robots | Future tech | Immersive technology | Toys | Culture Credentials
  • Bridget has spent over 18 years as a consumer tech reporter, hosting daily tech news shows and writing syndicated newspaper columns. She's often a guest on national radio and television stations, including ABC, CBS, CNBC and NBC.
Bridget Carey
2 min read
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Not all iPhones are released in the fall. Apple is rumored to be launching an iPhone 17E soon. It would be an update to what some call the "budget-friendly" model, but it won't feel too budgety, with an expected $600 price tag. 

Last year's iPhone 16E dropped in mid-February with a simple press release. But it doesn't mean Apple will take the same path this year.

Watch this: Apple's iPhone 17E Is Near: Here's What We Expect

Reports hint that Apple may also be ready to show off updates to its Siri assistant later this month. Could a new Siri and a new iPhone be announced together to stir more buzz?

In this episode of One More Thing, which you can watch embedded above, I go over the latest rumors and leaks of what we're expecting to see in the iPhone 17E.

The iPhone 16E model was priced pretty high, considering it was missing some fan-favorite basic iPhone features, including MagSafe charging. But it appears we can expect that to be rectified in the 17E. 

Leaks also point to this being the death of the "notch" if the iPhone 17E gets the Dynamic Island pill-shaped animated camera cutout on the front display. 

If the cost doesn't go down -- which doesn't seem likely -- then I hope Apple can still push for adding more value to this model. (More storage, please?)

So while we wait, I'm taking another look at the Apple Invites app this week. There's a new invite background art in light of Apple Music sponsoring the Super Bowl Halftime Show. 

The invitation app has been around for a year, and in that time has had some updates. But sadly, I have yet to be invited to a party by someone using this service. 

Maybe Apple could use the app to send me an invite to any 50th anniversary parties this year, since the company hits the half-century mark on April 1. According to a report from Bloomberg, CEO Tim Cook told staff, "I promise some celebration."

For more One More Thing, subscribe to our YouTube page to catch Bridget Carey breaking down the latest Apple news and issues every Friday.