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ZDNET's key takeaways
- iPhone 17e features A19 power and MagSafe.
- It also has a single 48MP Fusion camera on the back.
- Starts at $599 and doubles base storage to 256GB.
Apple has a busy week ahead, and it's kicking things off with the announcement of a new "entry-level" iPhone.
The company is hosting an event and is expected to unveil several products through a series of press releases over the coming days. It has already begun, revealing the iPhone 17e, a more affordable addition to the iPhone 17 lineup. Although there's still no Dynamic Island, which had been rumored, the phone introduces several upgrades over last year's entry-level model.
Also: I compared the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max: Here's which one to buy
It also differs in a few key ways from the iPhone 17 models Apple launched last fall. Here are six things to know about the 17e.
1. Powered by the A19 chip
The iPhone 17e has Apple's new A19 chip, the same generation of processor used in the standard iPhone 17.
Also: I broke my 5-year iPhone upgrade rule with the latest model - here's why I'm not regretting it
According to Apple, the A19 features a faster six-core CPU, a four-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and an upgraded 16-core Neural Engine designed for Apple Intelligence features. In other words, this puts the iPhone 17e in line with the rest of the iPhone 17 family, making it capable of handling gaming, on-device AI tasks, and multitasking without noticeable lag.
Apple has also introduced a new C1X cellular modem, which it said is up to twice as fast as the modem used in the iPhone 16e.
2. 6.1-inch OLED display
The iPhone 17e has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, while the base iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch screen and the same panel. There's no high refresh rate, as that is exclusive to higher-end models, but the screen hits up to 1200 nits of peak HDR brightness and supports Dolby Vision. Apple said it's using Ceramic Shield 2, offering three times better scratch resistance.
Also: The iPhone in your pocket is now trusted for classified NATO data
The phone has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and uses an "aerospace-grade" aluminum frame.
3. Single rear camera setup
On the back, the iPhone 17e features a 48-megapixel Fusion camera, like the iPhone 17 Air.
Also: I tested the iPhone Air for a week, and here's why 17 Pro Max users shouldn't sleep on it
By comparison, the standard iPhone 17 has an extra Ultra Wide lens, while the Pro models have both Ultra Wide and Telephoto.
Apple is relying on computational photography to make its single camera do more. The sensor supports an optical-quality 2x zoom, an improved Portrait mode, complete with automatic depth capture for people, dogs, and cats -- even if you did not switch to Portrait. Video tops out at 4K Dolby Vision at 60 frames per second. There's also spatial audio recording and wind noise reduction.
4. MagSafe wireless charging
Last year's iPhone 16e only supported Qi charging, but the iPhone 17e supports MagSafe and Qi2, enabling faster 15-watt wireless charging and access to Apple's ecosystem of magnetic chargers, wallets, and accessories.
Also: The thinnest MagSafe charger I've tested adds almost no weight to my iPhone
Wired charging still happens over USB-C, with Apple claiming up to 50% charge in about 30 minutes.
Battery life is described as all day.
5. Apple Intelligence and more
Out of the box, the iPhone 17e runs the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 26. It supports Apple Intelligence, including features like Live Translation, visual intelligence for on-screen content, Call Screening, and Hold Assist. It offers satellite features too, such as Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages via satellite, and Find My via satellite.
Also: 3 Apple Intelligence features that would convince me to ditch Gemini and ChatGPT
6. Starts at $599 with 258GB
The iPhone 17e starts at $599 with 256GB of storage, double the base storage of the previous model at the same price. For reference, the iPhone 17 starts at $799 for the base model, with the iPhone 17 Pro beginning at $1,099. The iPhone Air model is priced from $999.
Also: 12+ iPhone settings you can change to noticeably improve its battery life (iOS 26 and older)
The iPhone 17e comes in black, white, and a new soft pink finish. Preorders begin March 4, with availability starting March 11.
What does the 'e' mean?
Apple has not officially defined what the "e" stands for, but many have assumed it means "economical," "essential," or "entry," because it's the most affordable way to have the latest iPhone and newest features.
It's basically the "everyone" model.
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