Word on the street is that Apple's next budget-friendly iPhone, the iPhone 17e, might be getting a visual upgrade. Instead of a complete overhaul, it looks like Apple is focusing on refining the design with slimmer bezels.

According to reports, the iPhone 17e will probably stick with the same OLED panel we saw in the iPhone 14 and subsequently in the 16e. What's changing, however, is the frame around the screen. By reducing the size of the bezels, Apple can give the 17e a more modern look without significantly increasing production costs. It’s a clever way to refresh the phone's appearance. I think this is great, as many people complain about the big borders around the display, making the phone look outdated.

There's been some chatter about the 17e potentially getting the Dynamic Island, but it appears those rumors might be off the mark. While it would be cool to see that feature trickle down to the more affordable model, adding the Dynamic Island involves more than just software tweaks. It requires a completely different camera and sensor layout, which goes against Apple's strategy of keeping costs down for the "e" line. It makes sense for Apple to maintain the notch to differentiate the lower-cost device from its premium iPhone 17 models.

I believe that keeping the costs down is the main goal here. Based on what I'm hearing, the iPhone 17e is expected to retain a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. While some were hoping for a faster refresh rate, it appears Apple is sticking with the existing LTPS panels, which don't support variable refresh rates. However, sources indicate that the iPhone 17e is still on track to launch early next year.