Here's the English translation of your Romanian blog article, maintaining all formatting:
Highlights.
- iPhone SE missed the "budget" mark: Button design, TFT screen, overall too expensive for what it offered.
- iPhone 16e lowered the price, but still doesn't beat Android competition in value (e.g., 120Hz screens and better cameras at a lower price).
- iPhone 17e might bring Dynamic Island and A19, but risks staying with 60Hz and a single camera, so as not to become too good a competition for the more expensive models.
The iPhone has always been famous for its high prices, and people have been pushing Apple to finally make a proper budget phone. Apple insisted with the iPhone SE, which in 2020 and even in 2025 seemed too outdated: past-generation design, Home button, and a rather high price for what it offered, while other brands sold cheaper and better-equipped phones.
Then came the iPhone 16e, in February 2025: $599, cheaper than the base iPhone 16 ($799), but it still didn't seem like the "best deal" next to what Android phones were offering. The example given: the Pixel 9a would come with a 120Hz OLED, better value at $499, and more powerful cameras, so Apple still has a long way to go in the budget segment.
Now, rumors are surfacing about the iPhone 17e, and people hope Apple is listening to feedback: a more accessible iPhone, but without major compromises (MagSafe, multiple cameras, smoother screen). The problem is that Apple might again keep 60Hz, to make the expensive models seem even more "pro" with 120Hz ProMotion, even though Android has had smoother screens for years, including on very cheap phones.
The good part: it's rumored that the 17e would get Dynamic Island, so it would look more modern, and would likely remain at 6.1", because for a larger screen Apple wants you to pay for the high-end range. In terms of performance, the A19 is rumored, but with a possible cut "GPU core" (as has been done before), so very fast overall, but in heavy games the difference would be felt. The camera might remain a single one, probably 48MP: decent for most, but below what some rivals offer for less money.
In the end, the iPhone 17e is described as the phone for those who want to enter the Apple ecosystem with minimal expense: grandparents, the first iPhone for teenagers, or people switching from Android who want the "basic package" on iOS.