Apple iPhone 17e review: It’s what the iPhone 16e should’ve been from the start

After being a staunch supporter of the SE series for a long time, I had a change of heart about Apple’s budget phone after putting the iPhone 16e through testing last year. Now that the iPhone 17e is here to replace it, everything about it has to be put under the microscope to see if it has what it takes to be a best cheap phone contender.

That’s important because the iPhone 17e isn’t just looking to convince people it’s worth shelling out for over rivals like the recent Pixel 10a. It also needs to prove that the savings it offers are enough over the next model in the lineup — the iPhone 17 — which I still think offers some of the best bang-for-your-buck value around.

With upgrades like the A19 chip, 256GB of starting storage, newer C1X modem, and proper MagSafe support, the iPhone 17e feels more like what the iPhone 16e should’ve been from the start. In my iPhone 17e review, I’ll tell you if it’s worth its $599 price tag.

Apple iPhone 17e: Specifications

Apple iPhone 17e review: Price and release

Apple keeps the iPhone 17e at the same $599 price point as before, which still makes it the cheapest brand-new iPhone you can buy right now. What adds to the value is that it now has double the starting storage at 256GB, along with the addition of MagSafe connectivity. Those are the two biggest upgrades that I think make it a much more valuable phone and really help to bridge the gap against the iPhone 17.

The iPhone 17e was announced on March 2, 2026, with an official release set for March 11, 2026. In addition to the usual black and white options, Apple has added a third option — Soft Pink — which is swell to have if you want color, but it’s a very dull shade.

Apple iPhone 17e review: Design

Side-by-side with the iPhone 16e, there isn’t a noticeable change with the iPhone 17e, as it shares the same design language. It still features the notched display, along with flat edges and rounded corners.

Even though it retains the same IP68 rating as before, the iPhone 17e has been upgraded with a Ceramic Shield 2 front cover that reportedly offers three times better scratch resistance. Apart from that, there’s nothing terribly new or different about it — which is not to say that is a bad thing, especially when it’s incredibly solid and has that sturdy build quality I expect from Apple.

Apple iPhone 17e review: Display

There isn’t a whole lot of change to the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display of the iPhone 17e, which is still rated for 1,200 nits. In our testing, however, it revealed a slight decrease to 1,002 nits — which, honestly, is minimal compared to the iPhone 16e’s peak output of 1,028 nits. Video still looks amazing on the OLED display thanks to the rich colors and exceptional viewing angles.

Speaking of angles, the new Ceramic Shield 2 cover not only improves the screen’s scratch resistance, but Apple claims it also reduces glare. In reality, it’s barely perceptible unless I really focus on it — and it’s nowhere near the difference I witnessed between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16.

I’m not too critical about this, nor of the fact that the screen’s a smidge dimmer, but it’s hard to overlook that the refresh rate is still stuck at 60Hz. In 2026, this is just not acceptable anymore.

Apple iPhone 17e review: Cameras

Against its rivals, the iPhone 17e continues to be at a disadvantage because it’s still rocking a single camera. Apple loves referring to its 48MP Fusion camera as a 2-in-1 camera system, mainly because it enables an optical-quality 2x telephoto zoom. But the fact of the matter is that it’s still a single rear camera, which isn’t adequate in 2026.

Beyond that, there doesn’t appear to be much incentive for someone to upgrade if they already have the iPhone 16e. That’s because it features the same shooting modes and hardware as the previous model, including the 12MP TrueDepth camera on the front.

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These first shots above are a perfect example of how the iPhone 17e and 16e stack up against each other. That's because I can’t make out any difference between the two. From the exposure of the clouds that makes for a dramatic shot, to the fine details of the deteriorating wooden fence in the foreground, there’s nothing distinguishing them.

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Likewise, both the iPhone 17e and 16e capture the same level of detail with my selfies above — including all of my facial features, down to the textures of my jacket. But I do like the warmer tone of the iPhone 17e.

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When it comes to reproducing colors, I can tell they’re practically identical with the Cockatiel in its bird cage. I will say that all the vibrant colors make the photos pop, but again, there’s nothing different about them.

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For a phone with a single camera, I have to admit its image processing algorithms do an excellent job of applying that fake bokeh that blurs out the background in portraits. Even though the iPhone 16e holds up nicely, I like how the iPhone 17e blurs the background slightly more while doing a better job with edge detection. If you look at the top of my cap, the right side appears slightly blurred on the iPhone 16e.

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Zooming is handled by the 48MP main camera through sensor cropping, but strangely enough, this is the only instance where I notice a difference. While the iPhone 17e consistently has a brighter exposure at 10x zoom, the iPhone 16e produces a dimmer shot that actually retains more definition around the bricks.

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In low-light conditions, I continue to see similar results. Both phones do a nice job brightening the scene without softening the details of the building in the background or the wooden boards in the foreground.

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If you’re wondering how the iPhone 17e stacks up against the Pixel 10a, the shots above show a significant difference. Overall, the iPhone 17e’s shot catches my eye for its brighter exposure and warmer color temperature.

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Under low light, the Pixel 10a and iPhone 17e have their strong points. For example, the Pixel 10a does a much better job of exposing the tree in my backyard, but zooming in reveals that the iPhone 17e has the better definition.

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I’ll be the first to admit that I can confidently take photographs with the iPhone 17e, thanks in part to the excellent performance of its 48MP camera. However, there’s barely any improvement over the iPhone 16e that would convince me it’s worth the upgrade — especially since it shares the same shooting modes and editing tools.

Apple iPhone 17e review: Performance

Google needs to take note here because Apple did the logical thing in upgrading the iPhone 17e to the latest A19 chip, the same one that powers the iPhone 17. Clearly, there’s a performance boost based on the GeekBench 6 scores it posted, but more importantly, it shows how it has the upper hand over the Pixel 10a.

Just as before, the iPhone 17e feels pretty responsive — but it certainly lacks the finesse of the iPhone 17 due to its slower 60Hz refresh rate. Animations are smooth, but not as fluid as what I’m used to seeing from the 120Hz ProMotion displays. Nevertheless, it handles all of the basic stuff I do on my phone.

Interestingly, there’s a more substantial improvement in its graphics processing performance. In 3DMark’s Wild Life Unlimited test, the iPhone 17e achieved an average frame rate of 110.9 fps — a marked improvement over the iPhone 16e’s 71.27 fps average. After loading up Diablo Immortal, I loved how it handled all the complex lighting whenever I cast spells or unleashed huge attacks.

Apple iPhone 17e review: Battery life and charging

Apple doesn’t disclose the battery capacity of its phones, but I would wager that it’s identical to the previous model's. Oddly, though, its battery life falls a bit short at 12 hours and 35 minutes — compared to the 12 hours and 41-minute mark of the iPhone 16e. However, you should know that this result is only based on one battery drain pass. I’m hoping subsequent tests will show an improvement, especially since it needs to catch up to the Pixel 10a’s much longer battery life.

Likewise, there’s not much of a change to its charging speeds, as the iPhone 17e manages to reach 31% in 15 minutes and 59% after 30 minutes. What I’m most thrilled about is how it now offers support for MagSafe wireless charging, which boosts it to 15W wireless speeds. Consequently, it opens up access to a wider ecosystem of MagSafe accessories.

Apple iPhone 17e review: Software

Honestly, the software isn’t the reason to buy the iPhone 17e over other phones because it’s running iOS 26 — just like the iPhone 16e and the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup. It gets everything those other phones offer, like the interface’s makeover with Liquid Glass, group chat features like running polls, a new Call Screening tool for phone calls, the streamlined camera app interface, and more.

You also get the same set of Apple Intelligence tools, like Photo Cleanup to remove unwanted objects from photos, Image Playground to generate custom images with prompts, and the same Visual Intelligence feature that now integrates with the screenshot function. You also get the same Siri, so there’s nothing really new here that other iPhones running iOS 26 don't already offer.

This is both good and bad. It's good in the sense that it’s a unified experience across the board, no matter if you get the cheapest iPhone or the most expensive. But it’s also bad because there are no exclusive features over the previous iPhone 16e.

Luckily, Apple’s pretty good at releasing software updates throughout the year that introduce new features. I’m just hoping that more Apple Intelligence features come out with presumably iOS 27 later this year — especially given how Apple is working with Google to enhance its AI. Let’s face it: the current features are nowhere close to what the Pixel 10a offers.

Finally, it’s worth pointing out that Apple is excellent at bringing the latest version of iOS to its older phones. It’s likely that the iPhone 17e will receive at least five years of updates.

Apple iPhone 17e review: Verdict

After a lukewarm reception for the iPhone 16e last year, Apple has certainly made the appropriate course correction with the iPhone 17e. Although it still needs a few more upgrades before it’s perfect in my eyes, it is now a more compelling package that should definitely please anyone looking for a budget iPhone. Really, this is what the iPhone 16e should’ve been when it launched.

By sticking to the same $599 price point as before, it’s even better knowing that the iPhone 17e gets double the starting storage and finally embraces MagSafe — all while receiving the usual annual upgrades, like the A19 chip's outstanding performance. Sure, it’s still annoyingly stuck with a single rear camera and a 60Hz display, but the new upgrades undoubtedly carry more weight this time around.

So, who’s this phone for? While the iPhone 17 remains the iPhone for most people, the iPhone 17e best serves those who are still rocking older models that are several generations old — like the second-generation iPhone SE or iPhone 12 — but want to spend the least amount possible to get a brand-new device.

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