When Apple introduced the first “e” iPhone, the iPhone 16e, tech reviewers (myself included) expressed a collective: “WHY?”
It wasn’t about the battery life, or the chip that powers it (both were excellent), and no one was divided about the device’s primitive design. It was the lack of MagSafe, Apple’s magnetic charging technology that makes it easy to attach various accessories to the phone. It seemed like a strange omission. Ditching MagSafe may have reduced Apple’s production costs, but it meant phone owners wouldn’t have to buy any accessories from Apple’s rich MagSafe ecosystem.
I’m happy to report that this year’s budget phone from Apple, the iPhone 17e, fixes this issue.
It’s the same old design, with one big difference
MagSafe is here, and so is the clear case with MagSafe.
Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable
Apple sent me an iPhone 17e unit for review, and I was happily able to use my Apple Wallet and magnetic chargers with it. Apple also sent me the Clear Case with MagSafe, and while it may not be my favorite case in terms of design, it was a relief to be able to charge the phone magnetically without removing the case.
I know that people who buy a budget phone are probably not interested in adding extras. But MagSafe is a simple, cool feature that works with cheap, third-party accessories, and doesn’t get in the way if you’re not paying attention. I’m glad Apple woke up and included it in the new iPhone 17e.
Comparing the iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: Is the new $599 phone good enough?
The ability to use MagSafe chargers and accessories is probably the only physical difference between the iPhone 17e and 16e, however. The iPhone 17e looks exactly like its predecessor, the only difference is the new color, Soft Pink. The unit that Apple sent me was in this color, and I can tell you it’s very pretty, but it’s a really soft pink.
On the front, there is still no Dynamic Island; the sensors for Face ID and the selfie camera are still hidden inside the notch at the top of the display. The dimensions remain exactly the same (your old iPhone 16e case will work), and the weight is the same (169 grams for the new model, 167 grams for the old).
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The display is still a 6.1-inch OLED with a max at 60Hz, and that’s noticeable when switching from a 120Hz phone; transitions and animations aren’t nearly as smooth on the iPhone 17e.
The biggest improvement is inside
The iPhone 17e Silicone case (this one in a bright Guava color) can be attached to Apple’s Crossbody Strap.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable
The biggest improvement in the iPhone 17e is inside the phone. It has a new chip, Apple’s powerful A19, which can power the latest AI shenanigans. Apple’s C1X modem replaced the older C1 modem, although it’s hard to say what kind of improvements this one brought.
Perhaps most importantly, the iPhone 17e starts at 256GB, compared to the iPhone 16e’s starting storage of 128GB. Given that the starting price of the iPhone 17e remained unchanged at $599, this is a pretty big deal. You can also configure the iPhone 17e with 512GB of storage, but that takes the price to $799.
The combination of having the latest Apple chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will last at least four to five years. In fact, this makes it very similar to the $799 iPhone 17, although the A19 chip in the iPhone 17e has one less GPU core, which means it will be worse for sports. If you don’t mind having a flashy phone, and just need something that gets the job done, the iPhone 17e it is a very interesting choice.
What about the camera?
The rear camera has the same specs as last year’s iPhone 16e, but with some improvements.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable
When I reviewed the iPhone 16e, I was happy with the battery life and how powerful it was. But after using the phone for a few months, I came to be disappointed with the camera. The phone has a single, 48-megapixel rear camera with very similar features to the one on the iPhone 16. But it wasn’t the same; it was fine during the day, but a night shot, or a shot taken in the dimness of my living room, wasn’t enough.
The bad news is that the iPhone 17e has the same camera specs as the iPhone 16e. Apple says the new A19 chips will open up a better shot, and some new camera features are indeed there, including next-generation photos with Focus and Depth Control. But it’s hard to tell what the progress is like in advance.
At first glance, the camera is slightly better than before. I was able to take decent photos in dark areas. But I will need more time to test how much better it is.
Mashable’s Apple iPhone 17e review is coming soon. Want more tech updates and news? Subscribe to Mashable’s Top news magazine.
