Apple’s iPhone 17e, the purported successor to the iPhone 16e, could include magnetic wireless charging, or what the company calls MagSafe charging (via The Information). This could be a significant upgrade over the current iPhone 16e, which is limited to Qi wireless charging at 7.5W.
The inclusion of MagSafe technology would not only enable faster wireless charging (likely at 20W or 25W), but also let buyers use a variety of accessories — like wallets, charging pucks, wireless power banks, phone stands, etc. — with the iPhone.
iPhone 17e could leverage MagSafe’s pros
It is worth noting that only the models in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 series support 25W MagSafe charging. Other models support slower wireless charging speeds. For instance, the iPhone Air maxes out at 20W, while the models in the iPhone series (and older lineups) are capped at 15W.
If the iPhone 17e supports MagSafe charging at 20W or 25W, it will outperform several older models, including flagships, by a noticeable margin, making it a solid prospect for marketing the product. Obviously, it will also bridge the gap between wired and wireless charging speeds on the iPhone 17e.
The report also mentions that the iPhone 17e could feature Apple’s C1X modem instead of the C1 modem on the iPhone 16e. Introduced with the iPhone Air, the C1X modem is up to twice as fast as the original on the same cellular technologies. Apple also claims the newer modem is faster than the one in the iPhone 16 Pro while consuming 30% less energy.
Furthermore, the C1X is Apple’s most power-efficient modem, which could improve the iPhone 17e’s video playback ratings and real-world battery life. However, the newer modem still lacks mmWave 5G support, a feature present on the iPhone 17 models.
Finally, the iPhone 17e might not include Apple’s N1 wireless networking chip. For those catching up, the chip enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v6.0, and Thread connectivity on the iPhone 17 series. It could be a conscious decision to maintain a difference between the affordable and flagship models.
While these are newer updates about the iPhone 17e, the handset is also rumored to include the 18MP Center Stage front camera we’ve seen on the iPhone 17 models. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 series is said to come with an under-display camera on the front.