iPhone 17e Review: Contemporary Features for a Fraction of the Price

Since launch, I’ve been using the iPhone 17 Pro as my daily driver amongst the Apple ecosystem. That is, until I had the opportunity to try out Apple’s latest budget-friendly iPhone 17e. I felt as though going from the Pro level model to the iPhone 17e would cause some whiplash. I was surprisingly wrong in many ways.

iPhone 17e maintains the lowest price of the iPhone 17 family, starting at $899. Although there are some notable compromises being made to obtain such a low cost, they are few and far between. In fact, Apple doubled down on its feature set, adding the A19 chip from the standard iPhone 17. The device also sports double the storage of the iPhone 16e and MagSafe compatibility. The iPhone 17e stumbles with its 60Hz display and single lens camera array.

Though if you’re not looking for the latest and greatest, you’ll probably be able to overlook these, as the iPhone 17e’s value proposition is still fairly strong. The device won’t replace your existing iPhone 17, but is rather a cheaper entry point for the family for a user who doesn’t need all the extraneous features.

Out of the box

From the moment I first held the iPhone 17e, it felt indistinguishable from the iPhone 16e. It maintains that boxy design with rounded corners. The device sports a 6.1-inch, 1170 x 2532-pixel OLED display. The iPhone 17e supports HDR10 and 1,200 nits of brightness with a 60Hz refresh rate. This, in my opinion, is a glaring letdown coming from the iPhone 17 Pro’s 120Hz display. For many users, 60Hz is more than adequate when scrolling through social media or navigating between apps. Apple has upgraded the display to feature Ceramic Shield 2, making it far more scratch-resistant.

The display also sees the return of the larger notch at the top, maintaining a similar look to the iPhone 14. It’s now an antiquated design, given that contemporary iPhone models use thinner bezels and a smaller Dynamic Island. The chassis is made of aluminum with a matte finish on the back, which, despite the visual design, feels great to hold. iPhone 17e is available in White, Black and Soft Pink. Apple also offers 256GB and 512GB storage options, effectively doubling the storage capacity over its predecessor.

One of the largest changes this year is how Apple is handling the camera system. This year, Apple leverages the 48-megapixel Fusion main camera. This camera operates the same as the iPhone Air’s camera array, lacking ultrawide and telephoto options. However, as I’ll cover further down in my review, I was quite staggered by how good the camera is when everything is taken into account.

iPhone 17e features a small collection of upgrades

From a design standpoint, the iPhone 17e doesn’t look like a brand-new package. Though once we take a look at some of the internals, there’s quite a bit to comment on. The first is that the device uses the A19 chipset, which is also used in the iPhone 17. The only difference in the iPhone 17e’s chip usage is that it has one fewer GPU core. Ultimately, this affects processing power, but for most users, the difference won’t be noticeable.

iPhone 17e also uses Apple’s C1X modem, introduced on the iPhone Air. The modem is designed to improve connectivity. Throughout my time using the iPhone 17e, I never had any issues making calls or sending text messages, even in dense areas of Toronto.

Apple’s iPhone 17e supports many standardized features found across the iPhone 17 series. This includes the use of the Dynamic Island and Live Activities. With these features, you can get up-to-the-minute updates on your Uber’s arrival or track a workout without delving into specific apps. They’re insanely helpful and thoughtful uses of the Dynamic Island. iPhone 17e also feature StandBy, which turns your phone into a stylish clock when placed vertically.

The iPhone 17e sports the same 4,005 mAh battery as the iPhone 16e. On average, I was able to extract a full day of heavy usage from the device before needing a charge. This included frequent use of social apps like Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). I would also stream content on YouTube and Spotify for hours. A wired charge would get me back to 50% or more in around 30 minutes.

Apple added MagSafe compatibility to the iPhone 17e, adding 15W MagSafe charging. I’ve been a longtime MagSafe user, with a bedside charger for my phone, a MagSafe wallet, and other chargers I use regularly. Having the ability to slap on the FineWoven Wallet or use the iPhone 17e on my Belkin charging stand is a perk that’d be sorely missed had Apple not included MagSafe compatibility.

iPhone 17e’s camera isn’t anything to overlook

On the surface, it might be discouraging to see that the iPhone 17e supports a single camera lens. As a frequent user of the iPhone 17 Pro’s ultrawide camera, I found that not having it at my disposal required some adjustments. With this in mind, the 48-megapixel Fusion camera is rock solid. In brighter environments, the camera can take photos and video, retaining quite a lot of details. Even in lower-light environments, the f/1.6 aperture does quite a lot of heavy lifting.

The iPhone 17e also includes an upgraded 18-megapixel selfie camera with a f/1.9 aperture. Apple also baked in its Center Stage feature, which lets you switch between portrait and landscape orientations while taking a photo. This allows for a wider frame for your selfies, which is great for groups of friends or family.

From the camera’s perspective, the iPhone 17e does pale in comparison to the core iPhone 17 models. If you upgrade your device for the camera improvements, it may be worth paying the extra $200 for the improved camera system, with the 48-megapixel ultrawide lens to play around with.

Final thoughts

iPhone 17e isn’t made for mass adoption. It’s a device designed to give users a way into the current iPhone ecosystem without requiring a large buy-in. From this perspective, the iPhone 17e achieves its goal. You’ll find many of the latest features, including Apple Intelligence support, available on the device. It feels good in your hand, and while capped at 60Hz, the 6.1-inch OLED display is wonderful to look at. If you do need a bit more from your device, like a larger display or an ultrawide camera, it may be worth investing in the iPhone 17 or another model in the family.