iPhone 17e Review: Apple Upgrades Cheapest New Phone
The Story
The iPhone 17e, the cheapest new iPhone, has been upgraded with a faster A19 chip, double the storage to 256GB, automatic portrait capture, and MagSafe. It starts at £599 (€699/$599/A$999) and is available now.
Key Facts
- The iPhone 17e is an upgraded version of the mid-range “e” line first launched with the iPhone 16e.
- It undercuts the iPhone 17 by £200 and the iPhone 16 by £100.
- Design is identical to the previous model, with an iPhone 14-like look, a large notch, and a 6.1in OLED screen.
- The screen glass is upgraded to Ceramic Shield 2 with improved anti-glare.
- Processor is Apple A19 with a 4-core GPU (one less core than the iPhone 17).
- Standard storage is 256GB; also available in 512GB.
- Battery lasts 52 hours between charges on general usage across 5G and wifi.
- Battery should last in excess of 1,000 full-charge cycles with at least 80% original capacity.
- The phone contains more than 30% recycled material.
- The 48MP rear camera captures good photos and now automatically captures portrait shots from the main photo mode, allowing focus/depth adjustment after the fact.
- The 17e lacks ultrawide and telephoto options, macrophotography mode, wifi 7, Thread, Ultra Wideband (UWB), and a camera control button.
- iFixit awarded the phone seven out of 10 for repairability.
- The iPhone 17e costs from £599 (€699/$599/A$999) with 256GB storage.
- For comparison, the iPhone 17 costs £799, the iPhone Air costs £999, the Google Pixel 10a costs £499, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE costs £499.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
No specific individuals named in the source article.
Sources: The Guardian
