Would you rather buy a brand-new MacBook Neo—a whole computer—or Apple's cheapest iPhone 17e smartphone for the same amount of cash? It feels weird that a laptop could cost as much as something so small, but I'd argue that smartphones have a bigger job in being more versatile.
It needs to be connected to the internet everywhere you go, and the iPhone 17e even adds Emergency SOS via Satellite for extra peace of mind. It needs good enough cameras to snap pics of everything important—your dog, that sunset, those receipts for your expenses—and a selfie camera that looks good on FaceTimes and Zooms. The battery needs to run all day, it needs GPS for navigating, and NFC for mobile payments. The list goes on.
The iPhone 17e can do all of this fairly well for $599. Heck, truth be told, the iPhone 16e could too. But there are a few upgrades on the latest model that help make it worth the $599 price. If cost were the only factor, Google's Pixel 10a is $100 cheaper with extra niceties—it should absolutely be at the top of your list. But no. You want an iPhone. If you're not interested in the refurbished or used market, then the iPhone 17e is a respectable choice.
MagSafe Magic
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
The worst omission from last year's iPhone 16e was MagSafe. For more than five years, the iPhone has built an ecosystem of excellent MagSafe accessories that let you magnetically attach various items, like wireless power banks and magnetic wallets, to the back of your iPhone. Yes, it means faster and more efficient wireless charging, but MagSafe even makes it far simpler to mount the iPhone to anything, using a MagSafe tripod or even a car mount.