Apple iPhone 17e review: new chip, extra storage and MagSafe upgrades offer more core iOS features
Apple upgrades its entry-level handset to offer many of the core iPhone experiences in a more wallet-friendly device
I’ve been testing (for more than one month) Apple’s entry-level iPhone 17e, a 6.1in device offering some key upgrades over its predecessor.
The premise of the new handset is the same, with the Cupertino tech giant (currently celebrating its 50th anniversary) offering many of the core iPhone experiences in a more wallet-friendly unit that looks and feels the same as its most expensive Pro models which are among the best ultra-premium smartphones you can buy.
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Apple iPhone 17e in everyday use
The aluminium sides of iPhone 17e feel great and the display glass has been upgraded to the latest Ceramic Shield 2, which means it is tougher than the 16e. The display also includes an effective anti-glare treatment that makes it easy to view and read outdoors. The device includes the useful Action Button on the left side, which you can customise for quick access to the likes of focus modes, camera, torch or Shortcuts. I have mine assigned to a menu of Siri Shortcuts, incidentally. It’s a shame it can do only one thing. Having double press or long press options would make it more versatile. The handset itself is comfortable to hold and use. It weighs 170g and measures 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.8mm, feeling lighter than iPhone 17 Pro and slightly smaller.
One of the most important upgrades over the 16e is the inclusion of MagSafe magnetic wireless charging which is built into the glass rear of the handset which has a matte finish. MagSafe has been a key part of the iPhone experience since 2020 and it makes iPhone 17e compatible with a vast array of magnetic accessories such as wallets, chargers and in-car holders.
Another important upgrade is the doubling of base level storage to 256GB, which should be enough for most users especially if you use Apple’s iCloud storage as back-up.
And you get the second-gen C1X cellular modem that improves energy efficiency by using almost one third less power than the previous model and provides speeds up to twice as fast as the C1 modem in iPhone 16e.
The biggest upgrade is under the hood as iPhone 17e has the same powerful A19 chip from the standard iPhone 17. The only difference is there is one less graphics core on the 17e, but you would find it difficult to notice the reduced graphics performance in everyday use. This phone breezes through everyday tasks and multi-tasking with ease. It runs iOS 26 out of the box, which is a bold redesign of the Apple software called Liquid Glass. It gives a more rounded and glassy look to both text and icons. The native Phone app has been reworked; Apple’s Camera app is simpler and we now have a dedicated Games app.
New Apple Intelligence features include more capable automation in Shortcuts, while taking a screenshot activates Visual Intelligence, a context-aware smart feature that can do things like spot a date on your screen and drop it straight into your calendar.
The 6.1in Super Retina XDR OLED display has plenty of rich detail, vibrant colours, deep blacks and bright whites, ensuring a fantastic visual experience whether you're using the device for work or for play. It supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision and features a peak brightness of 1,200 nits for HDR content. There is only a 60Hz refresh rate, but whether you notice this depends on whether you’re coming from a phone with a higher refresh rate.
Apple iPhone 17e camera experience
Apple iPhone 17e has a single 48MP camera on the rear like the iPhone Air so there are no ultrawide and telephoto options. However, you can crop in on the primary wide angle camera to produce 12MP 2x zoom shots if required. The camera app is similar to the experience enjoyed on other phones though you don’t get the Photographic Styles which I missed, but if this is your first iPhone you won’t notice the missing feature. That is because even without the Styles, still images and video are consistently pleasing, even in lowlight conditions. Shots are crisp and colourful, with plenty of contrast and dynamic range. Portrait mode is fantastic and the 17e automatically captures portrait shots from the main photo mode. This is great as it means you can change the focus and depth of a picture after the fact. You also get a 12MP selfie camera which does a solid job even though it’s not Apple’s latest 18MP front facing camera. There’s no Camera Control button on the right hand side of the device for quick access to camera and video controls like there is on the other iPhone 17 models. However, I rarely use this feature and if you are upgrading from a device older than iPhone 16 then you won’t miss it either.
Apple iPhone 17e other features
Battery life is superb. Most users will get close to two days of use out of iPhone 17e. Recharging is capped at 20W wired speeds and 15W wireless.
Whether you choose a 256GB or 512GB model, Apple’s most affordable iPhone will cost you €250 less than the equivalent 6.1in sized iPhone 17.
Obviously there are compromises (such as the cameras) needed to make that price reduction possible. But most entry level users probably won’t miss the likes of the latest WiFi 7, the smart home protocol Thread, the Dynamic Island or the Ultra Wideband (UWB) that enables precision finding.
You will get seven years of iOS upgrades and software support from Apple whose mobile devices generally have more performance headroom than the competition to ensure they will stay capable for that long.
Apple iPhone 17e verdict
Apple iPhone 17e does what is intended and delivers the core iPhone experiences and reliable Apple software along with a superfast chip, a decent display, USB-C port, MagSafe charging, FaceID and excellent battery life.
If you are an Apple fan, and especially if you use other products in its ecosystem such as AirPods and Apple Watch, then you’ll love the slick and seamless experience iPhone 17e delivers and the quality of the photos and videos its single lens system delivers. If you are someone who takes lots of photos and videos then you should look at 17 Pro or the 17 Pro Max instead.
Apple iPhone 17e pricing and availability
Apple iPhone 17e is available in black, white and soft pink and costs €729 for 256GB of storage and €979 for 512GB of storage from apple.com/ie. You can also buy it for €705 (at time of publication) from Amazon.ie. For comparison, Google's most affordable handset, Pixel 10a, costs €659 for 256GB storage, and Samsung's Galaxy S25 FE costs €839 for 256GB of storage. Apple's iPhone 17 costs €979 for 256GB of storage.
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