Apple’s iPhone 17e, the rumored successor to the iPhone 16e, could feature 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 7.5W Qi wireless charging.
The inclusion of MagSafe technology would not only enable faster wireless charging (likely at 20W or 25W), but also allow buyers to use a variety of accessories – like wallets, charging pucks, wireless power banks, phone stands, etc. – with the iPhone.
The iPhone 17e could take advantage of MagSafe
It’s worth noting that only the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 series models support 25W MagSafe charging. Other models support slower wireless charging speeds. For example, the iPhone Air reaches a maximum power of 20W, while the iPhone series (and older model series) models are limited to 15W.
If the iPhone 17e supports 20W or 25W MagSafe charging, it will significantly outperform several older models, including flagships, making it a good prospect for marketing the product. Apparently it will also close 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 iPhone 16e’s C1 modem. The C1X modem introduced with the iPhone Air is up to twice as fast as the original using the same cellular technologies. Apple also claims that the newer modem is faster than the one in the iPhone 16 Pro while using 30% less energy.
Additionally, the C1X is Apple’s most power-efficient modem, which could improve the iPhone 17e’s video playback values 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 may not have Apple’s N1 wireless chip. For those keeping up to date, 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 models and the flagship models.
Although these are newer updates to the iPhone 17e, the handset is also rumored to feature the 18MP front-facing “Center Stage” camera that we saw on the iPhone 17 models. The iPhone 18 series is now said to be equipped with an under-display camera on the front.
