With the success of the iPhone 16e launch, Apple is now planning to make it an annual series, as the device is nearing the trial production stage. The so-called budget iPhone is slated to launch in May of next year, as per reports from a Chinese leaker from Apple's supply chain. The iPhone 16e is gradually becoming a hit for the masses, especially after rumors of a price hike. Apple is preparing to launch the iPhone 17e in late May 2026, with trial production expected to begin soon as part of its annual budget lineup The Weibo-based leaker known as Fixed Focus Digital claims that the iPhone 17e is currently expected to launch by the end of May 2026. While the exact launch time frame is not mentioned, Apple will potentially see fit to take its time and judge market response and production. According to the leaker, the iPhone 17e will face direct competition from rivals who launch their own set of mid-range devices more or less in the same time frame. In the North American market, we believe that the competition is Google's Pixel 9a and Samsung's A series of devices, but these two have not launched in the second quarter. This means that the real competition for the iPhone 17e comes from Chinese smartphone manufacturers, including Xiaomi, Redmi, and Vivo. Apple is quite concerned with its falling sales in China, as it was recently reported that the company's market share fell by 9 percent. It was the seventh consecutive quarter for the company to have declined while all major smartphone manufacturers, such as Xiaomi, Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo, took the top spot, respectively. The setup of the 17e production line is being planned. This answers the question: There will be a 17e next year, and now it is almost in the trial production stage. Compared to the iPhone 16e, which was launched in late February, Apple appears to be not too strict with its launch timeframe, as it is with the flagship models. However, it is too early to assume, as the company could pick up pace in the coming months and keep up with its Spring schedule. The 16e came with a bigger 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, A18 chip, and a USB-C port, all housed inside a body that resembles the iPhone 14. This allowed the company to position the device as a budget option to the standard models. A source shared a little information: “e model” is likely to be available in the next generation. At present, a new project code has been seen, which is suspected to be 17e. Fixed Focus Digital was the first source to have coined the name of the device, while the rest of the industry was pointing to the same 'SE' naming scheme. The new "iPhone 16e" nomenclature suggested that the budget iPhone will be an annual thing rather than launching every three years. The device will add more users to Apple's lineup who are not willing to spend upwards of $1,000 for a smartphone. Google does the same with its "a" series of Pixel phones, and the latest Pixel 9a has been received pretty well by the tech community. Apple's iPhone 16e is surely a direct and better competitor of the budget lineup from Google, and an annual cycle would only push the budget industry forward. Products mentioned iPhone 16E USD 599 Buy from Amazon Deal of the Day