The new iPhone 17e will arrive with Dynamic Island but only a 60 Hz display
By Digital Chat Station
Apple is finally putting its famed Dynamic Island into a budget‑grade iPhone with the upcoming iPhone 17e. But the price‑friendly model will stick to the same 60 Hz OLED screen that the iPhone 15 and 16 shipped with. That decision is already sparking debate among tech enthusiasts – especially when you remember that the lowest‑priced Xiaomi phones (under R1 800) now sports 90 Hz panels.
The last of the old displays
Apple has rolled Dynamic Island out gradually across its lineup, but the 17e will be the first “budget” iPhone to get the feature. The company, however, shows little enthusiasm for bumping up the refresh rate on its cheaper devices. The move is explained as a way to save battery life and keep a clear hardware divide between base and Pro models.
What this means is that the most affordable iPhone will still use technology that has, in many Android phones, already become outdated. For example, budget Xiaomi models such as the Redmi A3 and Redmi 13C (priced around R1 260) deliver 90 Hz or even 120 Hz LCD and OLED panels, giving a noticeably smoother scrolling and animation experience compared to a 60 Hz iPhone.
Xiaomi’s affordable advantage
Over the past few years, Xiaomi has built its reputation on a solid performance‑value balance. Its low‑cost phones come with high‑refresh‑rate displays, fast chipsets, and huge batteries – features that high‑end phones are now expected to offer. Apple’s approach to pricing and Xiaomi’s cost‑effective strategy underline why consumers, especially in emerging markets, are turning to companies like Xiaomi for better specs at lower prices.
While Apple focuses on brand prestige and design uniformity, Xiaomi keeps advanced technology in reach of the masses. The R1 260 Xiaomi phone not only beats the iPhone 17e in screen refresh rate but also provides a more fluid everyday experience.
Source – https://www.macrumors.com/2025/10/27/iphone-17e-could-feature-dynamic-island/
