iPhone 17e
Apple (MacRumors, Hacker News):
At the heart of iPhone 17e is the latest-generation A19, which delivers exceptional performance for everything users do. iPhone 17e also features C1X, the latest-generation cellular modem designed by Apple, which is up to 2x faster than C1 in iPhone 16e. The 48MP Fusion camera captures stunning photos, including next-generation portraits, and 4K Dolby Vision video. It also enables an optical-quality 2x Telephoto — like having two cameras in one. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display features Ceramic Shield 2, offering 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation and reduced glare. With MagSafe, users can enjoy fast wireless charging and access to a vast ecosystem of accessories like chargers and cases. And when iPhone 17e users are outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, Apple’s groundbreaking satellite features — including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via satellite — help them stay connected when it matters most.
[…]
Available in three elegant colors with a premium matte finish — black, white, and a beautiful new soft pink […] iPhone 17e will start at 256GB of storage for $599 — 2x the entry storage from the previous generation at the same starting price[…]
This sounds way better than last year’s iPhone 16e.
Apple also says that the 17e has a 48MP Fusion camera system, which on the face of it seems identical to last year’s “2-in-1 camera system” although Apple touts the 17e’s “next-generation” portrait mode that adds the ability to recognize people, dogs, and cats as well as to add portrait mode effects after the fact. The 12MP TrueDepth camera in front likewise has the same specs as last year, with the same addition of “next-generation portraits.” Apple attributes this ability to improvements in its image pipeline.
However, for most people who pay attention to the details, I think the $799 iPhone 17 remains a better deal. For $200 more, you get a larger, brighter screen (6.3 versus 6.1 inches), Camera Control for the fastest access to the camera, an Ultra Wide camera for macro and wide-angle photos, a higher resolution 18-megapixel Center Stage front camera with support for dual capture, better battery life, Always-On display with ProMotion technology for smoother scrolling, Dynamic Island, and more.
However, the 17e does have the Action button, which I think is better for triggering the camera, anyway.
The new iPhone includes an Apple A19 chip similar to the one in the more-expensive iPhone 17—both phones have six CPU cores, but the 17e only gets four GPU cores instead of five.
MagSafe has been added, although it does have slower charging speeds than the other iPhones in the lineup (but it does equal the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro lineup, so not too far behind).
[…]
Based on Apple’s compare page, it looks like this might be the exact camera that’s in the iPhone Air.
I gotta say, if the iPhone 17e had a Dynamic Island, I might’ve given it serious consideration as my everyday phone. Everything I need, no fluff.
Previously:
Update (2026-03-04): Jeff Johnson:
My iPhone SE 3rd generation:
5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inches
5.09 ounces
$429iPhone 17e:
5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches
5.96 ounces
$599
I feel as if Apple just unrolled the blueprints for the iPhone 17 and thought about how to make a less-expensive version of that thing. They started with this, and then worked their way down to there.
It doesn’t strike me as a device that was designed from the ground up to hit a maximum price point. In my eye, that’s the more interesting challenge, and it creates more interesting products at this price level. It’s the difference between designing a less-interesting version of an expensive thing, and designing a brand-new thing that’s truly exciting…where the lower price is among the least-interesting things about it.
The price is the other thing that’s nagging at me right now. Was $599 the best they could do? Is $599 even a worthy goal?
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> However, the 17e does have the Action button, which I think is better for triggering the camera, anyway.
I'm much happier with the camera control for taking photos — because I use a phone case, and it has a divot there for accessing the flush camera control. This makes it super easy to find and activate; I do it without thinking. Plus I find it a preferable orientation for the lenses. (I don't use the camera control for any of the other fiddly settings.) I never got in the habit of using the Action button; required too much concentration for me to remember which button I want.
That said, sometimes the camera control just won't activate unless I tap the screen to wake the phone first. And I suspect I wouldn't be so happy with the flush control if it weren't for the case.
The most interesting thing about this phone is that it’s somewhere between a 15 and 16 in terms of internals with the exact same display from the 14.
I’m surprised to see them choose such an old display for it, especially considering how hostile the interface has been towards the notch ever since they did Dynamic Island.
Rather than just using the exact same animation which would work fine since that space is unused anyway, everything that would be there pushes down into the active area and interferes.
Also I suppose people are more tolerant of 60Hz displays than I thought.
Overall I really hoped they’d just put that display generation to rest but I suppose they had to cut corners somewhere because the rest of the specs are good.
Here's one more point of comparison to add to Jeff Johnson's iPhone SE3 and the 17e, copying his work:
My iPhone SE 3rd generation:
5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inches
5.09 ounces
$429
iPhone 17e:
5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches
5.96 ounces
$599
iPhone 13 mini
5.18 x 2.53 x 0.30 inches
4.97 oz.
$699
Of course size and weight don't provide a complete overview of the products—not that doing so was Jeff's goal since he was focused on physical dimensions—but it's either impressive the 17e is so much less expensive than the 13 mini or maybe the cost of the 13 mini explains a lot about why that size didn't have much market success (the 12 mini was $30 more).
Been at the shop recently, wanted to have a look at 16e. The shop attendant reminded me that there's 17e coming and that I might want to wait. 16e is a bit too big compared to SE2. At least it looks like it is. And 17e is going to cost at least +$150 more when sales start (local price policies are bollocks).
There was a wee table with used/refurb iPhones nearby. One 12 mini. Perfect in size. Too bad they never got to make an SE4 out of spare 12/13 mini parts.
