Apple iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: Are the extra $200 worth it?
Apple has just officially unveiled the iPhone 17e, its new most affordable iPhone.
The iPhone 17e replaces the iPhone 16e and adds a few big upgrades including MagSafe support, double the storage and a faster chip, all at the same $600 starting price.
With so many improvements, is the iPhone 17e now the iPhone most people should go for? And what are the few advantages left for the $800 iPhone 17?
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17 differences:
| iPhone 17e | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|
| Display with a notch | Display with Dynamic Island |
| No Camera Control button | Camera Control button |
| Smaller 6.1-inch OLED display | Larger 6.3-inch OLED with higher brightness |
| 60Hz | 120Hz ProMotion |
| No Always-on display | Has Always-on display |
| Apple A19 chip with 8 GB of RAM | A19 chip with slightly better GPU, same 8 GB RAM |
| Unknown battery size, but likely around 4,000 mAh | 3,692 mAh battery |
| 20W wired charging | Faster 40W wired charging |
| 15W MagSafe | 25W MagSafe |
| A single 48MP rear camera | Dual camera system with one 48 MP main and 48 MP ultrawide |
| Apple C1X chip and N1 chip for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Thread support | Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 5G modem |
| Cheaper starting at $600 | More expensive at $800 |
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Design and Size
Similarly small with some small differences
Both the iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 are compact phones, but there are some slight differences.
The two share the familiar iPhone aesthetics of the flat aluminum/glass design and similar dimensions.
The iPhone 17e, however, doesn't feature the new Camera Control button and also lacks the Dynamic Island (the iPhone 17 has them both), as it is equipped with the older-style notch.
Both phones share the same IP68 water and dust resistance.
|
|
| Apple iPhone 17e | Apple iPhone 17 |
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm | 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm (~9.3 mm with camera bump) |
| Weight | |
| 169.0 g | 177.0 g |
See the full
Apple iPhone 17e vs Apple iPhone 17 specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
In terms of color options, the iPhone 17 arrives in Black, White, Sage, Lavender, and Mist Blue, while the iPhone 17e has a more limited color palette of white, black and soft rose.
Display Differences
Apple has not changed the screen on the iPhone 17e, so it still comes with a 6.1-inch screen, while the 17 has a slightly larger 6.3-inch display. It's a small difference, but I personally appreciate the extra screen space on the iPhone 17.
Probably the biggest difference between these two is the refresh rate. While the iPhone 17e runs at 60Hz, the iPhone 17 features a 120Hz ProMotion display. This makes for much smoother swiping and scrolling on the iPhone 17.
The iPhone 17e also has significantly lower peak brightness, which makes it a bit hard to see outdoors on a sunny day.
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 17e | Apple iPhone 17 |
| Size | |
|---|---|
| 6.1-inch | 6.3-inch |
| Type | |
| OLED, 60Hz | OLED, 120Hz |
See the full
Apple iPhone 17e vs Apple iPhone 17 specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
Face ID is the biometric functionality of choice on both devices.
Performance and Software
Similar performance, probably
Both devices arrive with roughly the same Apple A19 chip, built on a 3 nm node.
We expect this kind of chip on an $800 phone, but having the same kind of power on the $600 iPhone 17e is very impressive. The 17e is without a doubt the most powerful phone at its price.
The iPhone 17e also comes with the improved Apple C1X modem, as well as the N1 chip for enhanced Wi-Fi/Bluetooth stability and Thread support. Interestingly, the iPhone 17 skipped Apple's own line of in-house modems and relies on the Snapdragon X80 5G modem.
Both phones also share the same amount of RAM, 8 GB, and come in 256 GB and 512 GB storage versions. And this is probably the most impressive thing about the 17e — a phone with that kind of performance and storage at just $600 is a great deal.
| iPhone 17e | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|
| Chip Apple A19 | Chip Apple A19 |
| Process 3nm | Process 3nm |
| RAM, Storage 8/256 GB 8/512 GB | RAM, Storage 8/256 GB 8/512 GB |
iOS 26 will be the software of choice on both phones. The most significant change that came with that was the Liquid Design overhaul. Hate it or love it, it's here to stay.
Camera
A great dual camera meets a good single one.
The iPhone 17e comes with a single 48 MP camera at the back with a 2X optical-grade zoom level, and I'm convinced it would be more than enough to cover 95% of your needs. You won't be able to take an ultrawide shot or zoom too far, but otherwise, you'd be able to take excellent regular photos, which is what most people actually do.
The iPhone 17 comes with the same main camera but adds a 48 MP ultrawide in the rear as well, thus expanding the versatility.
One major difference is the Camera Control button, which the iPhone 17 has but the iPhone 17e lacks.
The iPhone 17 also comes with the new 18MP square Center Stage selfie camera, which lets you take a photo in either portrait or landscape no matter how you hold your phone, a real game-changer for selfies and video calls.
| iPhone 17e | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|
| Main 48 MP, f/1.6 26 mm | Main 48 MP, f/1.6 26 mm |
| - | Ultrawide 48 MP, F2.2 |
| Front 12MP | Front 18 MP Center Stage |
Battery Life and Charging
Who's coming out on top? The newcomer, likely
The iPhone 17e likely features the same 4,005 mAh battery as the iPhone 16e, and that's pretty impressive considering the same-sized iPhone 17 comes with a smaller battery. Paired with the A19 and the C1X chips, the efficiency of the device will likely help it achieve excellent battery life.
The iPhone 17 features a 3,692 mAh battery, and it generally fared well in the PhoneArena battery tests, but it definitely wasn't a two-day phone.
| iPhone 17e | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|
| Battery size 4,005 mAh | Battery size 3,692 mAh |
Charging speeds 20W wired 15W wireless charging MagSafe | Charging speeds 40W wired 25W wireless charging Magsafe |
Charging-wise, the iPhone 17 can be topped up at up to 40 W with a compatible charger, while the iPhone 17e maxes out at 20 W.
The iPhone 17e is also scoring MagSafe, albeit the first 15W generation. This lets you attach magnetic accessories to the back of your iPhone. The iPhone 17 also has MagSafe, though version 2.0, which bumps the charging speeds to 25 W.
Specs Comparison
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 17e | Apple iPhone 17 |
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm | 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm (~9.3 mm with camera bump) |
| Weight | |
| 169.0 g | 177.0 g |
| Size | |
|---|---|
| 6.1-inch | 6.3-inch |
| Type | |
| OLED, 60Hz | OLED, 120Hz |
| System chip | |
|---|---|
| Apple A19 (3 nm) | Apple A19 (3 nm) |
| Memory | |
| 8GB (LPDDR5)/256GB (NVMe) 8GB/512GB | 8GB (LPDDR5)/256GB 8GB/512GB |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| 4005 mAh | 3692 mAh |
| Charge speed | |
| Wireless: 15.0W | Wired: 40.0W Wireless: 25.0W |
| Main camera | |
|---|---|
| 48 MP (Sapphire crystal lens cover, OIS, Autofocus) Aperture size: F1.6 Focal length: 26 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
48 MP (Sensor-shift OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.6 Focal length: 26 mm Sensor size: 1/1.56" Pixel size: 1.0 μm |
| Second camera | |
| 48 MP (Ultra-wide, PDAF) Aperture size: F2.2 Focal Length: 13 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
|
| Front | |
| 12 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR, Slow-motion videos, Autofocus) | 18 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR) |
See the full
Apple iPhone 17e vs Apple iPhone 17 specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
Summary
With the iPhone 17e, Apple is reinvigorating its new affordable lineup, and it shapes up to be a great addition that fixes most of our criticisms about the predecessor iPhone 16e.
At the same unchanged price tag of $600, this one will likely sell like hotcakes, especially in emerging markets where it will be the most affordable up-to-date entry point to the Apple ecosystem.
The iPhone 17, on the other hand, is $200 pricier and that buys you a 120Hz ProMotion display that also gets brighter, faster charging, a secondary ultra-wide camera and a slightly better selfie camera.
Which one should you get? With the iPhone 17e improving in so many ways, most people should probably save some money and get it instead of the iPhone 17.
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