GoKawiilApple has attempted for years to give us an entry-level and budget-minded iPhone. First, we had the iPhone 5c with all its vibrant colors, then we got the iPhone SE line, and then last year Apple introduced the iPhone 16e. But these iPhones always came with compromises that made them hard to recommend, like limited storage, key missing features like MagSafe, or outdated hardware.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 is worth recommending to the masses. Here is what you should know.
Be sure to check out our hands-on video with the iPhone 17e. This thing was fantastic for the price.
What has been improved?
The best way to talk about the specs when it comes to a budget device like this is to see how it compares to its predecessor. The key thing to note here is that the starting price has remained the same. The iPhone 17e starts at just $599. For that price, you get a few key quality of life improvements that the 16e just didn’t have.
The new A19 chip that 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 just 7.5W
256GB base storage compared to just 128GB from last year
Ceramic Shield 2, giving 3x better scratch resistance
You can see here that Apple added and made adjustments to the features that mattered. If you just take storage into consideration, you are already getting a much better deal than last year. A 256GB iPhone 16e was $700! Then, when you add the new chip, better wireless charging, and MagSafe support, this now begins to look like a real compelling device. But how do these improvements translate to real-world use?
Real-world use
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