(Credit: Apple)
A cheaper iPhone every year may be the new norm. Just over a year since the iPhone 16e first debuted, Apple has introduced the iPhone 17e, which offers top-end features for $599.
The iPhone 17e comes with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, a rear 48MP camera, and a design similar to previous models. The phone comes in three colors: black, soft pink, or white.
(Credit: Apple)That display features a 60Hz refresh rate, so you won’t get the smooth 120Hz you see on the iPhone 17 and other models. It features a resolution of 2,532 by 1,170, for 460 pixels per inch.
The iPhone 17e comes with Ceramic Shield 2 protection, which Apple says offers three times the scratch resistance on the display compared with the iPhone 16e. Elsewhere, the phone is IP68-rated, meaning it's water- and dust-resistant.
Rumors suggested Apple would bring its Dynamic Island tech to the iPhone 17e, but instead, we get a large notch at the top of the device to house the 12MP TrueDepth selfie camera.
The rear features a single camera, which was a criticism of the last-gen phone. "The 48MP Fusion camera enables an optical-quality 2x Telephoto, giving users two cameras in one so they can get closer to the subject and easily frame their shot," Apple says. "Users can shoot sharp photos at up to 48MP resolution, or capture in the 24MP default for incredible image quality at a file size perfect for storing and sharing."
You get iOS 26 as standard on the iPhone 17e, and it's expected you'll get up to seven years of updates, which would take you through to 2032.
MagSafe compatibility is new to Apple’s cheaper iPhone series and lets you attach multiple accessories, such as cases and chargers. It also means 15W wireless charging support.
Apple didn't say how big the iPhone 17e's battery is, and we’ll have to wait for our full review to give a verdict on overall battery life. We found that the iPhone 16e had better battery life than previous models of this size, lasting almost four hours longer than the iPhone 16 in one of PCMag’s most intensive tests.
There's fast-charging tech that can bring the battery up to halfway in around 30 minutes. To get those speeds, you'll need a 20W charger or higher.
Inside the phone, you’ll find an A19 3-nanometer chip; RAM is rumored to be 8GB. Apple says this setup will deliver speeds up to twice those of an iPhone 11.
There's also a C1X modem, which first debuted on the iPhone Air and is twice as fast as similar tech used in the iPhone 16e. Apple has also doubled the storage on the iPhone 17e, with the handset starting at 256GB ($599) and an additional 512GB option ($799).
The iPhone 17e preorders begin on Wednesday, March 4, ahead of a March 11 launch.
Apple has confirmed that multiple announcements are coming this week; it also announced a new M4-powered iPad Air this morning. Previous rumors suggested we may see a new, cheaper MacBook model with an A19 chipset inside to keep the price low. Apple is also expected to introduce new MacBook Pro models in the coming days.