Apple just flipped the script and updated its entry-level iPhone after just one year. Here’s everything that’s new in between The newly announced iPhone 17 and last year iPhone 16e.
Everything new from iPhone 16e to iPhone 17e
Apple markets the upgrade from iPhone 16e 2025 to iPhone 17e 2026 with five key points:
- faster performance
- advanced camera system
- increased durability
- the magic of MagSafe
- double the original storage space
The promised faster performance it comes from switching to Apple’s A19 chip from the A18 chip.
The A19 is technically the same chip used inside the iPhone 17. One key difference is that like the A18 chip inside the iPhone 16e, the A19 has a quad-core GPU. However, the A19 of the iPhone 17e has GPU cores with Neural Accelerator for better AI performance.
Apple has also replaced its original C1 modem with the latest C1X cellular modem, which it says is “up to 2x faster than the C1 in the iPhone 16e.”
iPhone 17e advanced camera system adds support for Apple’s next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control.
This means that unlike the iPhone 16e, the new iPhone 17e “recognizes people, dogs and cats and automatically preserves depth information, allowing users to turn photos into beautiful portraits with background blur after capture and adjust the focus point in the Photos app.”
As a member of the iPhone 17 family, the new iPhone 17e was advertised increased durability comes from Ceramic Shield 2 front glass. This means the iPhone 17e screen has “3 times better scratch resistance” and “improved anti-reflection to reduce glare” compared to the iPhone 16e.
Perhaps the biggest relief of all is what Apple rightly calls it the magic of MagSafe on the iPhone 17e. Not including MagSafe with the iPhone 16e was a big letdown, but compared to the iPhone SE it replaced, the budget model wasn’t exactly missing a feature.
The addition of MagSafe to the iPhone 17e doesn’t just mean support for MagSafe accessories such as STANDS, walletsAND battery packs. iPhone 17e wireless charging the speed actually doubles compared to the iPhone 16e, jumping from just 7.5W to 15W with a 20W or higher adapter.
The iPhone 17e also promotes Qi2 support, not just standard Qi support like the iPhone 16e.
And most importantly for the iPhone 17e, Apple’s offering double the original storage space compared to the iPhone 16e without increasing the price makes it a better value for customers.
The iPhone 16e came in three storage tiers: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB. The iPhone 17e only has two storage options: 256GB and 512GB. What’s new this cycle is that 256GB costs $599 and 512GB costs $799 compared to $699 and $899, respectively, for the upgraded storage on the iPhone 16e.
Apple notes that the starting 256GB of storage on the iPhone 17e is actually a 4x increase over the iPhone 12. This creates a significant increase in space for customers who upgrade.
Visually, the iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e look the same with a “premium matte finish” that includes either black or white. New to the iPhone 17e, however, is Apple’s new soft pink color option.
Physically, there’s also a very slight increase in weight, according to Apple’s specs data. The iPhone 17e weighs 5.96 ounces (169 grams) compared to the iPhone 16e at 5.88 ounces (167 grams).
What remains the same or is still missing?
When Apple replaced the year-old iPhone SE with the iPhone 16e last year, it raised the starting price from $429 to $599 (while doubling the base storage from 64GB).
This year, the iPhone 17e doubles the base storage again, while the starting price remains the same 599 dollars.
However, 512GB is still the highest storage option for the iPhone 17e, so you’ll need to look elsewhere if your needs can’t fit into the iPhone 16e’s main storage option.
While the durability of the glass improves, the 6.1-inch screen size remains the same with the same entry-level style as the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14. If you prefer the look and function of Apple The dynamic islandThe iPhone 17e is missing just like the iPhone 16e.
And while cellular performance has increased thanks to the switch from the C1 modem to the C1X modem, other cellular and wireless specs are unchanged from iPhone 16e to iPhone 17e: 5G (sub-6 GHz) with 4×4 MIMO, Wi-Fi 6AND Bluetooth 5.3.
Battery life is also unchanged with the promised video playback of up to 26 hours and fast charging capabilities of up to 50% charging in 30 minutes with one 20W adapter or higher over USB-C.
Overall, the iPhone 17e could be a difficult compared to the iPhone 17but it’s better value for money next to the iPhone 16e.
Double the basic storage and MagSafe support with iPhone 17e iPhone 16e value should drop at least $100 while still in retail inventory.
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