In the last few days, a respected commentator has weighed in on the discussion of whether the iPhone 16e will be replaced as soon as next year.

There's no official word on an iPhone 17 release date. But using Apple's own history of iPhone rollouts, we can make an educated guess as to when the new models might arrive this year.

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17 Pro, alongside the standard iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and an all-new iPhone 17 Air, in September 2025.

However, the iPhone 17 Air, which is rumoured to replace Apple’s plus-size model, might be cheaper than many expect. According to a report published by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in March, the phone will cost the same price as the iPhone 16 Plus – that’s $899 in the US and £899 in the UK. A welcome rumour if it's accurate.

How Apple would account for any potential price increases is unclear, though it seems the most likely explanation is attributing it to new features. The iPhone 17 is likely to feature an upgraded display with a faster refresh rate, while the iPhone 17 Pro models are tipped to get upgraded cameras, particularly the telephoto lens.

Apple is contemplating a price increase for its next iPhone model due to inflation and rising production costs, testing consumer loyalty in a competitive market.

Apple is planning a major iPhone launch timeline refresh. For years, the company has launched the base iPhone with its Pro variants, but it could change starting in 2027. Both The Information and Kuo have predicted a staggered rollout for the iPhone 18 series.