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5 reasons to buy the iPhone 17e and 3 reasons to skip it

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Is it still the budget iPhone to get?

iPhone 17e concept design by AorS Mobile
(Image credit: AorS Mobile / YouTube)
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All of the iPhone 17e rumors hint that Apple might release its budget model sooner than you think. In fact, we could see it arrive in a matter of weeks, with February 19 as a potential launch date for this best iPhone contender. But at the same time, it makes me wonder if it’s worth the upgrade.

That’s because in my iPhone 16e review, I mentioned how it comes with certain trade-offs that are dealbreakers for some people. With these rumored upgrades, though, I’m crossing my fingers that they’re enough to convince people to choose it over other phones — including the rumored Pixel 10a expected to launch at around the same time, as well as the current iPhone 17 that I love. Here are all the reasons I think you should buy the iPhone 17e, along with a few reasons to skip it entirely.

iPhone 17e: Reasons to buy

MagSafe wireless charging support

Iniu WI-222 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Charger on table.

(Image credit: Future)

I can’t stress enough how essential MagSafe support has become. While Apple famously omitted this feature from the iPhone 16e, rumors suggest the iPhone 17e will finally include the necessary hardware for full MagSafe compatibility.

This is a vital addition for any new iPhone in 2026 — even an affordable one — because it allows users to wirelessly charge their devices with ease. Another notable upgrade rumored for the 17e is support for the same 25W MagSafe charging speeds found in the flagship iPhone 17 lineup.

As someone who relies on various MagSafe accessories daily, I’m thrilled that Apple may finally bringing proper magnetic support to its budget iPhone.

Powerful A19 performance

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 - Cell 0

iPhone 16e

iPhone 17

Chipset

Apple A18

Apple A19

Geekbench 6 (single-core/multi-core)

3,328 / 8,132

3,701 / 9,460

3DMark Wild Life Original Unlimited (score/fps)

11,904 / 71.27

21873 / 130.97

Adobe Premiere Rush time to transcode (mins:secs)

0:21

0:22

Since it’s part of the iPhone 17 family, the iPhone 17e will likely be powered by Apple’s A19 chip — which is one of the biggest reasons to buy it. I’m reminded of the outstanding graphics processing performance of the standard iPhone 17, which kept the action in Diablo Immortal fluid even with ray tracing effects enabled.

The iPhone 17e should benefit greatly from this, as the table above shows how the A19’s GPU delivers more fluid frame rates than the previous-generation A18.

Say goodbye to the notch

iPhone 16e Dynamic Island.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide / John Velasco)

While the notch never bothered me much in the past, it now looks significantly out of place compared to the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup. That’s why I’m excited about the rumor that the iPhone 17e will switch to the newer Dynamic Island cutout.

This aesthetic change would make the display feel much more seamless — especially since I’ve found the notch distracting when watching videos in full-screen mode on my iPhone 16e. I really hope this rumor proves true, as some conflicting reports suggest Apple might not change the design at all.

C1X modem

iPhone 16e in a pocket.

(Image credit: Future)

Apple moved away from Qualcomm with the iPhone 16e, opting for its first in-house C1 modem instead of the Qualcomm hardware it had relied on for years. With the iPhone 17e, the device appears set to gain the newer C1X modem, which was first introduced with the iPhone Air.

Apple has claimed that the C1X modem is twice as fast as the original C1, so I anticipate that the iPhone 17e will see those same benefits. This should result in significantly faster download speeds by “stitching” more cellular signals together.

At the same time, this newer modem could also inherently improve the iPhone 17e’s battery life thanks to its enhanced power efficiency.

Wi-Fi 7

iPhone 16e running Asphalt Legends.

(Image credit: Future)

The inclusion of Apple’s C1X modem would also inherently give the iPhone 17e a speed advantage thanks to Wi-Fi 7 support. This makes the device significantly more future-proof, especially when paired with Wi-Fi 7 routers.

The main benefit is the ability to connect to multiple bands simultaneously across the 5GHz and 6GHz frequencies. By leveraging this technology, the phone can reduce latency and prevent connection drops — which is critical for online gaming, where even a momentary lapse in Wi-Fi connectivity can be the difference between winning and losing.

iPhone 17e: Reasons to skip

Stuck at 60Hz

iPhone 16e playing a video.

(Image credit: Future)

No other upgrade made me happier about the iPhone 17 than it finally being treated to a 120Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately, this visual improvement might not make its way to the iPhone 17e, as rumors suggest Apple is keeping the screen at 60Hz for another year.

If you’ve been spoiled by 120Hz displays like I have, you know how much of a difference this makes. While I’m confident the phone will offer incredible performance, it simply won’t have that buttery, fluid look that makes 120Hz displays so satisfying to use.

One rear camera yet again

iPhone 16e camera closeup.

(Image credit: Future)

I’ll be the first to admit that the single 48MP rear camera on the iPhone 16e delivers outstanding results — something I proved in my 200-photo shootout against the Pixel 9a. However, it’s disappointing to think that in 2026, Apple might still release an iPhone with only one camera.

Leaks suggest Apple is recycling the same hardware as before: a 48MP rear camera and a 12MP selfie snapper. This puts the iPhone 17e at a significant disadvantage, especially since most of the best affordable phones now feature dual-camera setups. However, another rumor hints that the iPhone 17e will get an upgraded 18MP Center Stage camera.

But without an ultrawide lens, the iPhone 17e simply won’t offer the same level of utility as its competitors.

There’s the iPhone 17 to think about

Apple iPhone 17 held in the hand.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide / John Velasco)

If the rumored $599 price for the iPhone 17e holds true, I’d be inclined to skip it in favor of the standard iPhone 17.

For an extra $200, you get a significantly better value: a 120Hz ProMotion display, a more modern design, a versatile dual-camera system, and double the base storage. I suspect Apple will keep the iPhone 17e at 128GB, which is another compelling reason to consider the step-up model instead.

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John Velasco
John Velasco
Senior Channel Editor for Phones

John’s a senior editor covering phones for Tom’s Guide. He’s no stranger in this area having covered mobile phones and gadgets since 2008 when he started his career. On top of his editor duties, he’s a seasoned videographer being in front and behind the camera producing YouTube videos. Previously, he held editor roles with PhoneArena, Android Authority, Digital Trends, and SPY. Outside of tech, he enjoys producing mini documentaries and fun social clips for small businesses, enjoying the beach life at the Jersey Shore, and recently becoming a first time homeowner.

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