Apple’s first {hardware} launch of 2026—not counting the second-generation AirTag it debuted on the finish of January—is the following iteration of the price-friendly iPhone: the iPhone 17e. The corporate introduced the handset by way of a web-based press launch, forward of its “Particular Apple Expertise” in New York Metropolis this Wednesday.
Whereas final yr’s iPhone 16e was extensively criticized for its questionable worth—it changed the iPhone “SE” fashions from yesteryear and jacked the worth up from $429 to $599—the newer mannequin within the collection has some notable options that had been lacking in its predecessor, like Apple’s MagSafe know-how and the Dynamic Island. The worth stays agency at $599 regardless of the difficult financial surroundings and the reminiscence scarcity.
The iPhone 17e opens for preorder right now and might be extensively accessible on March 11.
E for Effort
Apple has caught with the identical 6.1-inch OLED show because the iPhone 16e, right down to the identical old-school notch design. Meaning you will not get the smooth look of the Dynamic Island, which additionally doubles as a stay notifications show. Fortunately, if you happen to’re anxious about sturdiness, this iPhone has the identical Ceramic Defend 2 entrance glass defending the show as its pricier siblings, giving it a pleasant energy increase from the earlier era.
Apple did not improve the display with its ProMotion refresh price tech, because it’s caught at 60 Hz. This functionality is the variety of instances the display refreshes with photographs—the upper the higher, as your show will seem smoother, with interactions feeling extra fluid. It is one thing the corporate has provided within the iPhone Professional fashions, and at last enabled in 2025 with its whole iPhone 17 vary, however you will should improve for the posh. It is a disgrace, as most price range Android telephones supply 120 Hz as normal, even units as low cost as $200. That additionally means the iPhone 17e does not have the choice to allow an always-on show.
Arguably, the most effective improve is the addition of MagSafe, the magnetic ring that has been embedded at the back of mainline iPhones because the iPhone 12. Apple confusingly did not embody it with the iPhone 16e regardless of a wholesome accent market that will have made the iPhone 16e just a little extra versatile. Whereas the 16e nonetheless had primary wi-fi charging, with the iPhone 17e, you possibly can reap the benefits of quicker magnetic wi-fi charging at 15 watts (plus entry to MagSafe equipment).
This iPhone is powered by the A19 chipset, which debuted on the iPhone 17, although there’s one much less graphics core, so graphics efficiency is a small step beneath. That is according to what Apple did with the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16 that got here earlier than. Apple did not share RAM particulars but, but it surely’s possible that the iPhone 17e has 8 GB of RAM like its predecessor, whereas the remainder of the iPhone 17 lineup has 12 GB.
Courtesy of Apple