iPhone 17E Review: Magnetically Appealing (and Pink)

2026-03-16 | original

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Why This Matters

The iPhone 17E's introduction of MagSafe technology at a lower price point signifies Apple's effort to democratize premium features, making advanced accessories more accessible to a broader audience. This shift could influence competitors to adopt similar strategies, ultimately benefiting consumers with more feature-rich, affordable smartphones.

Key Takeaways

MagSafe is now available on the budget-friendly iPhone 17E, expanding its accessibility.
The iPhone 17E offers high storage capacity (256GB) at a lower price, narrowing the gap with premium models.
Despite its affordability, the device has some limitations like thicker bezels and a 60Hz display, highlighting the trade-offs in budget smartphones.

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

8.6 / 10 Score Cnet Score CNET provides expert, unbiased reviews of products and services. When we assign a score, we use a scale of 1-10. Each product we score is evaluated by criteria specific to its category with most assessing pricing, quality, features and performance. Read more on: How we test Apple iPhone 17E $599 at Apple Pros Premium feel

Solid camera

MagSafe compatibility

Higher 256GB base storage

A19 chip

Fun pink color option Cons No Dynamic Island

Thick bezels

No ultrawide camera or Cinematic video

Only 60Hz refresh rate means no always-on display

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