iPhone 17e review: The new $599 standard

Apple has tried for years to give us an entry-level and budget iPhone. First, we had the iPhone 5c and all its bright colors, then we got the iPhone SE line, and last year Apple introduced the iPhone 16e. But these iPhones often came with compromises that made them hard to recommend, such as limited storage, missing essential features like MagSafe, or outdated hardware. With the new iPhone 17e, I think Apple may have finally solved that problem. The iPhone 17e is Apple’s first true budget-friendly iPhone that should recommend it to many people. Here’s what you need to know.

Be sure to check out our hands-on video with the iPhone 17e. This item was great for the price.

What has been improved?

The best way to talk about specs when it comes to a budget device like this is to see how it compares to its predecessor. The main thing to note here is that the starting price remains the same. The iPhone 17e starts at just $599. For that price, you get a few important quality of life improvements that the 16e didn’t have.

• The new A19 chip is also in the new iPhone 17
  • This gives the 17e a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine
• MagSafe support
  • Which gives you 15W wireless charging support compared to only 7.5W
• 256GB base storage compared to 128GB from last year
• Ceramic Shield 2, which offers 3x better scratch resistance

You can see here that Apple has added and made changes to important features. As long as you consider storage, you’re already getting a much better deal than last year. iPhone 16e 256GB was $700! Then, when you add a new chip, better wireless charging, and MagSafe support, this is now starting to look like a really compelling device. But how do these improvements translate into real-world use?

Real world use

We all know that specs only tell half the story. The real question is whether these improvements translate into a better day-to-day experience. The short answer is: absolutely. The new A19 chip makes everything feel smooth and responsive. For context, I’m running on a 120Hz promotional display, so it’s not that smooth. But for most people, it will sound good. Whether you’re scrolling through Safari, using social media, switching between apps, or playing intense games, this chip can handle it all. For people coming from an iPhone 14 or higher, this will feel like a huge leap forward.

One of the biggest compromises Apple had to make on this device was the display. It still uses the same 6.1in Super Retina XDR OLED display (yes its mouth). Which means it’s stuck at 60Hz. But it’s still bright, sharp, and fully equipped to handle everything from watching videos to browsing to playing games. I also think that the customers who buy this phone don’t care about this. Not the ones from the ProMotion display; they are customers who stuck with their iPhone Xr until it stopped working. So yes, the display on Pro phones is more fluid, but iPhone 17e customers won’t notice and it doesn’t hinder the iOS experience at all.

Another major hardware upgrade was MagSafe! Not only have they added magnets, but they also now support Qi2 wireless charging. So you can charge your iPhone 17e at 15W instead of only 7.5W. I’ve been using the SolidSafe Air ultra slim MagSafe battery as well, and it’s a great match. Extends battery life by 100%! MagSafe also allows you to use all your MagSafe accessories without needing to buy a case.

Cameras

This is another example of an area where Apple has made compromises but they still stick to the original title of the flagship iPhones. The iPhone 17e still has a single camera sensor. But that sensor is the 48MP primary camera that the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro have. You get:

• 48MP high resolution images
• 2× optical quality zoom
• Smart HDR processing
• Portrait mode with depth control
• 4K Dolby Vision video recording

The compromise here is not in sensor or camera quality but flexibility and price. You miss out on the larger lens that the iPhone 17 has and the telephoto lens that the Pro models have. So there is no macro mode, or action mode. But the sensor still takes amazing photos and videos. If you have good lighting, the image quality produced by this iPhone is clean. Even in low light conditions, it performs well. The missing piece is whether you want to include more people in the picture, or you want a wide angle; you don’t have that option. I actually think the ultra-wide lens is a big plus for the average customer. I’ve heard that people would rather keep their iPhone 12 because it has a wider camera, instead of upgrading to the 17e. What can you do?

One last thing to note about the cameras is that the iPhone 17e doesn’t get the new 24MP square sensor for the selfie camera. It sticks to the 12MP camera for true depth. It’s not a big deal, but it’s another feature that Apple left out in this iPhone.

How it stacks up against the rest of the iPhone lineup

This is where things get interesting. The iPhone 17e has fewer compromises than it did when it was the 16e. At $599, that means it sits at $200 less than the iPhone 17. What do you get for $200? You get a flagship 120Hz display, a wider camera sensor, a new 24MP selfie camera, a flexible island, and camera controls. For the target customer of the iPhone 17e, I believe those people won’t care enough to upgrade to the iPhone 17. Also, this is for someone who has used an iPhone for 5+ years and just wants to get the cheapest modern iPhone.

So, there is a clear budget iPhone that most people will just walk into a carrier store and pick up. It looks modern, has the functionality to match the iPhone 2026 system and will easily last another 5-7 years.

Price and availability

The iPhone 17e is available today starting at $599. It comes in three colors to choose from: Black, White and Soft Pink. It also comes in two storage options of 256GB and 512GB.

Final thoughts

The iPhone 17e feels like the entry-level iPhone that Apple should have been making years ago. Instead of feeling like a compromised version of a flagship device, it now delivers a great experience with features that many people really want. You get an A19 chip, 256GB of base storage, MagSafe support, a capable 48MP camera, and solid battery life, all for the same starting price of $599.

So if you’re upgrading from an older iPhone or just looking for the best value in the iPhone lineup, the iPhone 17e gets my recommendation. It retains just enough of the flagship features without compromising too much and ruining the iPhone experience. The iPhone gets all the basics right.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Are you a target iPhone customer? Let’s discuss below.

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