Apple’s new iPhone 17e hits stores on Wednesday, and reviews of the latest $599 model are pouring in. Reviewers are praising the new color option, doubled storage capacity and the inclusion of MagSafe. However, what the iPhone 17e lacks is also making the standard iPhone 17 look even better for those who can afford it.
First, Brian Tong has a video review that calls the iPhone 17e a “strong upgrade” for iPhone SE and iPhone 11 users, especially thanks to the increased storage and the addition of MagSafe:
Meanwhile, TechRadar calls the new soft pink option “a great color addition” while describing the A19 chip as “very fast,” but the lack of an always-on display or 120Hz refresh rate is a negative for the iPhone 17e:
of Apple The iPhone 17e isn’t a total reinvention of Apple’s budget iPhone — rather, it’s a refinement of the formula introduced by the Apple iPhone 16e. That phone did the heavy lifting by modernizing the design and removing the Home button that defined the Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation); The 17e just makes the package more compelling.
Part of that freshness comes with a new Soft Pink color option alongside Black and White, but the biggest improvements are under the hood. The iPhone 17e is powered by Apple’s A19 chip and feels consistently fast in everyday use, and now starts with 256GB of storage – double the base capacity of its predecessor – while keeping the same starting price of $599 / £599 / AU$999.
threshold says the iPhone 17e is “good, but you probably shouldn’t buy it” because $200 jumps in Standard iPhone 17 “worth it”.
The main thing to know about the 17E is that the iPhone 17 exists, costs $200 more — or maybe more, an extra $9 per month on a two-year payment plan, not including any discounts your carrier offers — and comes with a long list of improvements. And if it’s within your means to shell out that extra cash, you should.
CNET smartly calls the iPhone 17e’s “magnetic” appeal thanks to MagSafe, while calling the $200 compromises not too bright for most people.
Other aspects of the 17E serve as a reminder that you get what you pay for. The bezels are noticeably thicker than on Apple’s more premium options. There is no Dynamic Island for system notifications and live activities, but an old level at the top. A fixed 60Hz display also means there’s no always-on display, so I can’t quickly glance at the time or my notifications – something that’s been hard to get used to.
There’s a lot that makes the iPhone 17E feel like a worthy lower-priced option. And for most people, the trade-offs shouldn’t seem too obvious, especially when you’re saving a few hundred dollars.
Engadget sums up the iPhone 17e simply as the “economical choice” being an entry-level smartphone that “checks the boxes for the basics.”
With the current state of the global economy, Apple’s focus on lower-cost devices like the iPhone 17e and the newly launched MacBook Neo is timely. Most people probably don’t really use the high-powered machines in their pockets and laps, and may reconsider whether they should spend more money on Apple’s Pro and Airs product lines. At $599, the iPhone 17e is about half the price of an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone Air. It’s also $200 cheaper than the base iPhone 17.
You can find more reviews at Telegraph, MobileSyrup, PCMag, Tom’s GuideAND Wires.
The iPhone 17e is available for pre-order now ahead of the official release on Wednesday, March 11.
Apple has three new accessories for iPhone 17e:
What do you think of Apple’s latest $599 iPhone so far? Tell us in the comments.
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