I never thought MagSafe's haptic feedback could be so satisfying.
I've been using Apple's $599 iPhone 17E, which brings MagSafe's magnetic technology to its lowest-priced handset. Beyond the added convenience of easily attaching chargers and accessories, this signals Apple's efforts to expand once-premium features across its full iPhone lineup, no matter how much you're willing to pay. Plus, the addition of a fresh color warms my pink-loving heart.
The iPhone 17E borrows other features from the $829 baseline iPhone 17. The budget option packs the same A19 chip (albeit with a four-core GPU instead of five), an action button and a 48-megapixel main camera. It starts with 256GB of storage, making that $599 price more enticing -- even if it's arguably pushing the limits of what's considered a "budget" phone. But the fact that I have to double-check whether I'm reaching for the iPhone 17E or the 17 is surely a good sign that the gap between the two is narrowing -- and in the right direction.
The iPhone 17E comes in soft pink, black and white. Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
Other aspects of the 17E serve as a reminder that you get what you pay for. The bezels are noticeably thicker than on Apple's more premium options. There's no Dynamic Island for system notifications and Live Activities, but rather an old-school notch at the top. A fixed 60 Hz display also means there's no always-on display, so I can't quickly glance at the time or my notifications -- something that's been hard to get used to.
There's a lot that makes the iPhone 17E feel like a worthy lower-priced option. And for most people, the compromises shouldn't feel too glaring, especially when you're saving a couple hundred dollars.
Watch this: iPhone 17E Packs More Features for the Same $599 Price 02:32
The iPhone 17E is available to preorder now, and hits store shelves on March 11.
The iPhone 17E has a 6.1-inch display, with a pretty prominent notch and bezels. Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
iPhone 17E look, feel and display
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