LONDON—Apple held three simultaneous March Events today in New York, London, and Shanghai. I caught up with Apple in London, where I got to spend some time with the latest iPhone. The 17e, which at $599 is now the least-expensive model in the iPhone 17 series, picks up where the 16e left off. Although the updates are mostly on the inside, the spec upgrades make it a better phone in nearly every way. Here are my early thoughts.
It Doesn’t Look Any Different
Apart from introducing a new color (Soft Pink), the 17e looks basically the same as the 16e. That’s not a surprise. It’s a great little phone. The aluminum frame and glass components feel fantastic. Apple upgraded the display glass to Ceramic Shield 2, providing the phone with better protection against scratches and breakage. The rear panel’s texture is just gritty enough to give the phone some grip without feeling like sandpaper.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
The buttons are all in the same spots, as is the USB-C port (still Gen 2). Because I’m in London, the models on display at Apple’s Battersea event space included a physical SIM tray. North American versions of the 17e are eSIM-only, just like the 16e.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
The 6.1-inch screen is smaller than the 6.3-inch screens on the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro, making the device a bit smaller. This makes it a great starting point for those with smaller hands.
It’s What’s on the Inside That Counts
As for the specs, here’s what’s new. The 17e upgrades from the A18 processor to Apple’s newer A19 chip. This gives the phone a 30% performance boost and a similar efficiency boost. This will be particularly helpful for Apple Intelligence and creative tasks. In the demos I saw on-site, the Apple Photos app is more powerful at making generative edits to photos in real-time.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Apple swapped in its newer C1X modem, which delivers a big bump in 5G wireless speeds and more efficient 5G performance.
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Media hogs will be happy to learn that Apple doubled the base storage from 128GB to 256GB without changing the price. That’s a significant improvement.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
One of the biggest quality-of-life upgrades? The 17e supports MagSafe wireless charging. Not only can you take advantage of magnetic charging accessories, but the phone also charges at up to 15W wirelessly—twice as much as the 16e’s 7.5W.
Somewhat surprisingly, Apple is rating the battery for the same 26 hours of video playback as the 16e.
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(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Shutterbugs will appreciate the updated camera, which is the same as the one on the iPhone Air, Apple’s 48MP Fusion camera system.
Is It Worth It?
The 17e is a solid value at $599. Last year’s 16e felt a little overpriced without features like MagSafe. Now the value is locked in. Apple gave the 17e a significant spec bump with fresh components that will generate noticeably better performance. This is an excellent alternative to the iPhone 17, which costs $200 more, and it makes more sense as a starter iPhone for new users.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
I expect to publish a full review of the Apple iPhone 17e in the weeks ahead. Be sure to check back soon. For more, read our spec-by-spec comparison of the iPhone 17 versus the 17e.
About Our Expert
Eric Zeman
Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics
Experience
I’m PCMag’s managing editor for consumer electronics content, overseeing an experienced team of reviewers and product testers. I’ve been covering technology for about 25 years. Prior to PCMag, I worked at outlets such as Android Authority, Fortune, InformationWeek, and Phonescoop.
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