American giant Apple has begun pre-orders for the new iPhone 17e model, which is set to hit store shelves on March 11, 2026. This event coincides with the conclusion of the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, where the most innovative mobile devices of the year were showcased. Apple's new budget smartphone is generating excitement due to its attractive price, portrait mode, and new color variants, positioning it as direct competition for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series.

Start of iPhone 17e Pre-orders

The device will enter wide distribution on March 11, offering new colors and a portrait mode.

Conclusion of MWC 2026 Trade Show

In Barcelona, 12 breakthrough projects were awarded, including phones with e-paper screens.

Sales of Previous Models

The launch of the new iPhone has triggered sharp price reductions for the 16e model among global distributors.

The beginning of March 2026 brought significant activity to the mobile device market. The main topic is the debut of the iPhone 17e, which has been officially made available for pre-order. The device, despite having fewer features compared to Pro models, offers an advanced portrait mode and modern design, including a popular pink color variant. Experts indicate that this model aims to attract users seeking the optimal quality-to-price ratio, although it lacks the integrated privacy filter which is standard in competing Samsung models. Simultaneously, the prestigious MWC 2026 trade show has concluded in Barcelona. The TechRadar editorial team awarded prizes to 12 winners in categories ranging from smartphones and tablets to intelligent security systems. Among the technological novelties highlighted were phones utilizing e-paper technology and miniature SSDs, heralding further miniaturization and a focus on visual ergonomics in consumer mobile devices. Since the launch of the first iPhone in 2007, Apple has consistently built an ecosystem where models with the "e" or "SE" designation serve as entry-level devices, intended to stem the flow of users to the Android platform.The market situation is forcing sellers to adopt aggressive pricing policies. The appearance of the new model has caused drastic price cuts for the older iPhone 16e, which has gone on sale at liquidation prices. Meanwhile, mobile operators in Germany and France have prepared offers where the iPhone 17e is available for a symbolic amount when choosing a suitable subscription plan. The battle for customers is intensifying, especially as Samsung promotes its S26 Ultra series with a system of high discounts for trading in old devices, making the Korean flagship a real price alternative to Apple's budget offerings. „Best phones of MWC 2026: I just tested 30 phones in 2 days and these are the 6 you absolutely must see” — TechRadar Journalist