Apple released a brand-new budget iPhone two days before its special in-person event planned for March 4. While the event will talk more about this new phone, we already have all the specs. I'll cover everything that’s new, how it compares to last year's iPhone 16e, and whether you should buy the iPhone 17e or not
iPhone 17e Release Date & Pricing
Availability:
- Pre-order March 4
- Available March 11
Pricing:
- Starting at $599
Pro Tip
Customers purchasing through Apple in the USA can get up to $599 off when they trade in their old iPhones. You may find even better trade-in deals through your carrier. It's worth checking
The iPhone 17e at a Glance
- It supports MagSafe charging.
- It comes in Soft Pink, White, and Black.
- Has some of the same features as the high-end iPhone 17 Pro Mac model, including a 48MP back camera, an OLED display, and all day battery life.
- Offers up to 26 hours of video playback which is 5 hours more than last year's iPhone 16e.
- It has a notch, rather than a Dynamic Island.
- It has A19 chip which is the same chip that the base iPhone 17 has, which is not quite as powerful as the A19 Pro chip in the Pro models of iPhone 17 lineup.
- It does not have a Home button, but it does come with a customizable Side button.
- It has only one back camera lens, though Apple says it incorporates telephoto capabilities like a 2x optical-quality zoom.
- It has a 6.1-inch display size.
iPhone 17e Is Similar to 16e but a Little Better
So, while there are many similarities to last year’s iPhone 16e, the 17e does have MagSafe charging, twice as much storage, an A19 chip, more battery life, and it comes with three color options including pink, while last year we could only pick between black or white. So if you currently have an iPhone 16e, you might have enough reasons to trade it in for the 17e, unless one of the five major differences is vital to you.
Better than the SE Models, Worse than the iPhone 17
Since it has Apple Intelligence, like last year’s model, it is still the cheapest way to get a brand new iPhone with Apple Intelligence if you currently have a model that doesn’t have it. Check out our article on the iPhone 16e to learn more about all the Apple Intelligence features you’ll find on these budget iPhone ‘e’ models. The most notable Apple Intelligence feature is that we might finally get the long-promised improved Siri this year, if not next. Apple will soon be using Google’s Gemini AI to power Apple’s Siri, and the iPhone 17e will get to test it out along with the other models that are compatible with Apple Intelligence.
Just like last year’s 16e, it has lots of security features like Emergency SOS, Crash Detection, Roadside Assistance, and Find My. If there’s no cellular connection, the iPhone 17e will be able to connect to satellites if you are off grid. This was also the case for the 16e, but it can be a significant upgrade if your current iPhone doesn’t have these features. For tips on how to use your new iPhone, make sure you check out our free Tip of the Day newsletter
Who Should Get the iPhone 17e?
Any time Apple releases a new iPhone, the big question is, "Should I buy it?" If you have an iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, or an earlier iPhone model, the iPhone 17e will be an upgrade, with one big catch—you'll be losing a camera lens. While the iPhone 17e has a 48 MP camera, it doesn't come with the Ultra-Wide lens that's great for macro and fisheye photography, or with its own dedicated telephoto lens. However, if having Apple Intelligence right away isn't that important to you or you want a top-of-the-line iPhone camera, you might want to wait until the iPhone 18 that Apple is expected to release this fall.
If you are considering the iPhone 17e, make sure to look into the trade-in prices because Apple often makes them worth upgrading your phone. If possible, I recommend you stop by your nearest Apple Store and look at the iPhone 17e in person. If you don't live near an Apple Store, you'll have to wait a few days or maybe a week, but after March 11 at the latest, you'll be able to use Apple’s compare page to see the difference between your current model and the iPhone 17e.
The iPhone 17e is not a whole lot better than the 16e, but in general the iPhone 'e' models have a lot of advanced features that weren't available on iPhone's previous budget models. However, they are also priced at over $150 more than the latest iPhone SE (3rd generation), so it isn't as affordable to go for the "budget" option as it used to be.
