A new tech leak suggests that Apple’s upcoming budget mobile devices, the iPhone 17e and the entry-level model of the iPad, will probably be getting only minor upgrades when they get released this year.
Apple is planning to keep the same exterior look and feel on both devices, though it will improve internal components like processor and memory, according to new reporting from a Japanese tech outlet — just as Apple has long done with its lower-cost devices.
What the Latest Leak Says
The report suggests Apple will not change much of the design, which serves as a base model for iPhone 17e and the standard iPad version, but rather focus on internal improvements to improve performance and efficiency. The anticipated enhancements are likely to be:
Next-gen chip improvements in processing power
More memory and higher bandwidth support for connections
Behind-the-scenes software optimizations
This strategy indicates Apple is focusing on smarter performance upgrades and not visual changes for its mid-level devices this cycle.
iPhone 17e: Powerhouse of a Phone
Rumours have surrounded the iPhone 17e — the cheaper of Apple’s two smartphone ranges — for weeks, but suggest it will be powered by an updated A19 chip with slight increases in speed and AI potential to ski compared to its forebear.
Although previous leaks have teased features such as MagSafe and Dynamic Island support, some leakers claim that Apple’s budget option could remain a little more visually similar to its predecessor when it comes to display Makeup and refresh tech — at least initially.
This approach follows Apple’s overall pattern of design consistency across the range, and honing in on areas of primary focus over price.
Base iPad: Incremental Upgrades Expected
The next standard model iPad, which presumably will continue to sport the relatively new design of its predecessor, will make a logical follow-up as well: more power and memory.
We’re hearing that the next-gen base iPad will be 8 GB of RAM, which should lead to increased support when it comes to on-device AI workloads and multitasking. This supports Apple’s push for more potent devices that are geared towards better productivity and their own Apple Intelligence systems.
What This Means for Users
For you, those incremental improvements probably mean better day-to-day performance and more smoothly handling modern apps at the very least — without massive overhauls in looks or form factor. It also suggests that Apple is bolstering the middle tier of its hardware lineup, perhaps to attract budget shoppers who might want strong power without flagship prices.
This would echo the recent pattern of Apple’s product cycle: minor design adjustments followed by larger design changes further down the line. Apple has not confirmed release dates or full specs, but the new leaks imply that the 2026 iPhone 17e and base iPad models will improve performance significantly without the need for a complete redesign. This way Apple is able to stay competitive in the mid-range and still have its trademark design uniformity.
Browsing tech nerds to potential customers will both probably be watching for more official information in the months to come.
