GoKawiilThe $599 iPhone 17E is a great new entry-level iOS device for someone who wants a budget-friendly phone with many of the premium features of Apple's flagship phones. In her iPhone 17E review, my colleague Abrar Al-Heeti praised the phone's feel, higher base storage of 256GB and the inclusion of MagSafe. But even with these perks, I can't help but notice that there are several other iPhone options that might be a better match for someone shopping in this price range.
Watch this: iPhone 17E Packs More Features for the Same $599 Price 02:32
The iPhone 17E's launch alongside the $599 MacBook Neo provides an interesting comparison for how Apple's rolling out value options in these categories. The MacBook Neo is an excellent laptop for its price, but its competitors aren't necessarily cheap Windows laptops or Chromebooks. The Neo is replacing older MacBook Air laptops that were selling at a discount and is now Apple's most affordable laptop.
But while the Neo is a compelling option for buying a brand-new laptop over an older one, I don't necessarily feel the same way about the iPhone 17E. There are a number of reasons to still consider an older iPhone instead of a brand-new iPhone 17E.
A brand new iPhone 15 costs as low as $530, and has more camera features than the iPhone 17E. John Kim/CNET
You can still get new iPhones for less than the 17E
Apple's iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 have many of the same features as the iPhone 17E, but in lots of ways, they are better options. Both phones have a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera that's similar to the single rear camera on the 17E. But the older flagship phones also have a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, which the iPhone 17E lacks, allowing for photos and videos of wider scenes at 0.5x magnification. And you can still buy both of them brand new for around the price of the 17E. At the time of writing, the iPhone 15 is $530 and the iPhone 16 is $630 at Best Buy when you activate it on AT&T or Verizon.
You can also buy both devices from Apple using its Certified Refurbished shop. While this technically means the devices were used, it also means Apple itself replaced any necessary parts and is essentially selling the device as new, complete with a warranty and the option to add AppleCare. Apple's 128GB iPhone 15 is for $529, or if you want to match the iPhone 17E's 256GB of storage, that model is $619. While that's $20 above the iPhone 17E's price, the more versatile dual-rear camera system is an easy reason to choose the iPhone 15, not to mention video features like Cinematic mode and Action mode, which aren't available on the 17E.
Apple's iPhone 16 does support Apple Intelligence and comes with an Action button. James Martin/CNET
You do lose Apple Intelligence access by choosing the iPhone 15, but at this time, you aren't missing out on much, since features like an enhanced Siri are still in the works. Another option is a $619 refurbished iPhone 16 which supports Apple Intelligence and has a programmable Action button, but only comes with 128GB of storage. Stepping up to 256GB costs256GB takes you to $699, which isn't bad, but you're now looking at a $100 upcharge from the iPhone 17E's $599 price to get that ultrawide camera.
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