iPhone 17e Reportedly Coming Soon with A19 Chip

JAKARTA - Apple seems ready to play its classic trick again: a significant upgrade on the inside, a calm look on the outside. The iPhone 17e, the successor to the iPhone 16e, is reportedly about to launch in the near future with the A19 chip and a price tag that remains at $599 (Rp10 million).

This information was revealed by Mark Gurman in Bloomberg's Power On newsletter. Gurman said the launch of the iPhone 17e would happen "soon", without specifying a date. In Apple's dictionary, the word can mean a matter of days or a few weeks, enough to get the market and fans ready.

The iPhone 17e is said to use the A19 chip, the same processor as that used in the regular iPhone 17 line. This marks a significant performance boost for the e model, which has been positioned as a more affordable version of the iPhone. In addition to performance improvements, Apple is also rumored to be pinning the latest version of the company's internal mobile and wireless chip designs.

Another update that is quite prominent is the presence of MagSafe, a feature that is absent in the iPhone 16e. With this addition, the iPhone 17e will be more in line with Apple's accessory ecosystem, from charging to magnetic wallets.

Regarding the price, Apple is reported to have maintained the US $599 price tag, the same as the previous generation. This strategy strengthens the position of the iPhone 17e as an entry point to the latest iPhone ecosystem without having to penetrate the flagship price.

In terms of design, don't expect any big surprises. In line with previous rumors, the iPhone 17e is said to only experience a spec-bump update, namely focusing on an internal upgrade with minimal changes to the physical shape. A report from MacOtakara on February 6 said the design of the iPhone 16e would be maintained, so that the iPhone 17e would visually look almost identical.

The device is expected to still carry a 6.1-inch OLED screen. However, there is an interesting speculation that Apple will finally eliminate the notch and replace it with Dynamic Island, although this information is not entirely solid.

Behind the familiar design, the iPhone 17e is projected to bring 8GB of RAM as well as a switch to the C1X internal cellular modem and N1 wireless network chip. If true, this will strengthen Apple's move to reduce dependence on external suppliers, while improving efficiency and performance control.

With the performance equivalent to the iPhone 17, the MagSafe feature, and a price that is relatively "friendly to Apple", the iPhone 17e has the potential to be Cupertino's main weapon for the premium mid-market. Simply put, this is an iPhone for those who want new power without new design drama. And yes, the wallet can still breathe, even if it's thin.