TL; DR
- Mark Gurman says the iPhone 17e launch is imminent, and Apple will keep the $599 starting price.
- Apple will upgrade the entry-level iPad 12 to the A18 chip for Apple Intelligence, while the iPad Air will jump to the M4.
- Earlier reports pointed to a February 19 launch date (same day as iPhone 16e last year), but February 19 falls on a Thursday in 2026, so Apple could also announce it on February 18 instead.
Mark Gurman has outlined Apple’s early 2026 product roadmap in his latest Power On newsletter. He says Apple will kick off the year with a hardware push focused on “accessible” products and Apple Intelligence support, and he describes the iPhone 17e launch as “imminent.”
Gurman also says Apple will keep the iPhone 17e at the same $599 starting price as the iPhone 16e. He frames it as a move aimed at enterprise buyers and emerging markets, where Apple still wants a strong entry-level option.
On the spec side, Gurman says the iPhone 17e will add a few key upgrades, including the A19 chip, MagSafe, Apple’s newer in-house C1X modem, and the N1 wireless chip. He also suggests Apple will keep the design similar to the iPhone 16e, with no major redesign mentioned (not even the Dynamic Island).
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On the iPad side, Gurman says Apple will refresh the entry-level iPad (12th generation) with the A18 chip. This will bring Apple Intelligence support to Apple’s cheapest iPad for the first time. Gurman does not mention major design changes here either.
He also says Apple will move the iPad Air to the M4 chip. He positions this as a performance upgrade, and this again notes that Apple won’t change much visually across the iPad lineup.
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Separately, earlier reports had already suggested Apple could launch the iPhone 17e on February 19, matching the exact date the iPhone 16e launched last year.
The timing still fits Gurman’s “imminent” wording, but there could be a small twist this year: February 19 lands on a Thursday in 2026. Apple usually prefers Wednesday announcements, so a February 18 press release also feels possible.
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