Apple reportedly didn’t see the success it would have wanted with the iPhone 16e, but that’s not stopping the brand from launching a successor, presumably the iPhone 17e. If rumors are anything to go by, the upcoming model may get the A19 chip, an 18MP Center Stage camera, and more. A new report now sheds light on the display aspect. The iPhone 17e may feature slimmer display bezels, while retaining the iPhone 16e’s OLED panel.
iPhone 17e may use the same OLED panel, but feature slim bezels
According to a new report from The Elec, citing supply chain sources, BOE will again produce most of the panels for the iPhone 17e, with Samsung Display and LG Display supplying the rest. The phone will use the same display as the iPhone 16e, but with slim bezels.
This suggests that iPhone 17e could retain a 6.1-inch OLED display, with a refresh rate still at 60Hz. BOE has not yet been able to produce reliable low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) panels for iPhone 17 models. It, however, can produce low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT panels, which the iPhone 16e uses. LTPS panels can’t support variable refresh rate like the iPhone 17.
The report doesn’t mention anything about Dynamic Island. Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station, a while back, claimed that iPhone 17e will get a Dynamic Island upgrade.
Dynamic Island upgrade remains uncertain
Currently, it’s not certain whether the iPhone 17e will get a Dynamic Island upgrade, but slim bezels could be a possibility. The tech giant could equip the iPhone 17e with slim bezels without changing the display panel itself. This is because bezel size is largely determined by the frame and how tightly the screen fits into the chassis. If this pans out, it should refresh the look of the phone without adding much to the manufacturing costs.
As for Dynamic Island, things get tricky. Apple can’t bring this to an older notch-based display. This seemingly requires a reworked TrueDepth camera layout, revised sensor placement, and updated display masking. Upgrading to Dynamic Island means doing away with several of the components and production efficiencies that Apple is reportedly planning to reuse for the iPhone 17e.
This would also defeat the company’s cost-saving strategy that defines the “e” series. Retaining the notch will serve as a differentiating factor between the low-cost device and the iPhone 17 models. For now, the iPhone 17e is rumored to debut in early 2026.
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