The iPhone 17E’s Biggest Rival Isn’t Budget Android Phones — Older iPhones

The $599 iPhone 17E is a great new entry level iOS device for the budget-friendly seeker the phone with many premium features like Apple’s best phones. To him iPhone 17E reviewmy colleague Abrar Al-Heeti praised the feel of the phone, the 256GB maximum basic storage and the MagSafe installation. But even with these advantages, I can’t help but realize that there are a few other iPhone options that might be a better fit for someone shopping in this price range.

Watch this: The iPhone 17E Packs More Features for the Same Price of $599

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The launch of the iPhone 17E alongside the $599 MacBook Neo offers an interesting comparison of how Apple releases value options in these categories. The MacBook Neo is a great laptop for its price, but its competitors really don’t exist cheap Windows laptops or Chromebooks. Neo replaces the old one MacBook Air laptops which were selling at a discount, and are now Apple’s most affordable laptops.

But while the Neo is a compelling alternative to buying a brand new laptop over an old one, I don’t feel the same way about the iPhone 17E. There are many reasons that still need to be considered an old iPhone instead of the brand new iPhone 17E.

You can still get new iPhones for less than 17E

Apple iPhone 15 again iPhone 16 they have many of the same features as the iPhone 17E, but in many ways, they are better options. Both phones have a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera similar to the single rear camera on the 17E. But older flagship phones also have a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, which the iPhone 17E doesn’t include, which allows photos and videos of wide scenes at 0.5x magnification. And you can still buy both brand new for around 17E. At the time of writing, the iPhone 15 is $530 as well as iPhone 16 is $630 at Best Buy if you activate it on AT&T or Verizon.

You can also buy both devices from Apple using its Verified Repair store. Although this means that the devices are used, it also means that Apple itself replaced any necessary parts and in fact sells the device as a new item, complete with warranty and optional extras. AppleCare. Apple’s 128GB iPhone 15 costs $529or if you want to match the iPhone 17E’s 256GB storage, that is model is $619. While that’s $20 more than the iPhone 17E’s price, the flexible rear camera system is an easy reason to choose the iPhone 15, not to mention video features like Cinematic mode and Action mode, which aren’t available on the 17E.

You lose Access to Apple Intelligence by choosing the iPhone 15, but this time, you are not missing much, as features such as improved Siri they are still working. Another option is a $619 refurbished iPhone 16 which supports Apple Intelligence and has a programmable system Action buttonbut it only comes with 128GB of storage. Going up to 256GB costs256GB takes you to $699which isn’t bad, but now you’re looking at a $100 premium over the $599 iPhone 17E price to get that extra-wide camera.

While these options allow you to buy a new or brand-new device, if you’re okay with buying a used phone from a third-party seller, you can get the iPhone 15 Pro with less work.

Use can get you an iPhone 15 Pro — but watch the trade-in

I follow the used phone market closely and recently tried a used iPhone 13 Mini to see how it holds up four years after release. I often see the use of 2023 iPhone 15 Pros with tempting prices in “Renewed” status on sites like Amazon, Gazelle and BackMarket.

Watch this: I’m Trying a Used iPhone 13 Mini in 2025. Could It Be A Better Buy Than The iPhone Air?

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Feature-wise, the iPhone 15 Pro blows the iPhone 17E out of the water in every way but processing power. You get three cameras, including a 3x telephoto lens, and an A17 Pro processor that can tap into Apple Intelligence.

As of this writing, on Amazon, for example, the 512GB iPhone 15 Pro retails for between $557 and $600, depending on color. That’s the price of an iPhone with at least 80% of its original battery capacity (Apple recommends replacing the iPhone’s battery when its maximum capacity drops to 80% or less). I Updated Premium editionit comes with a battery with a maximum capacity of 90% and costs around $620. In both cases, the phones may have visible wear, but nothing that should affect your ability to use the phone.

But note my emphasis on battery life: My repaired iPhone 13 Mini battery was at 83% capacity, and incredibly frustrating to use. And although I have a phone insurance perk credit card that would cover the cost of battery replacement (without insurance, the cost is $69 for the 13 Mini, and $99 for the iPhone 15 and 16), that’s only at official Apple stores and they only change when the battery drops below 80% capacity. If you’re comfortable disassembling your phone, there are also kits to replace the phone battery yourself, but that’s a “your own risk” kind of thing. Third party repair centers are also an option for battery replacement but it will void the warranty (if there is anything left on the phone).

Most used phones come with a warranty but may have a limited return window. Even if it’s short, this return window can be great because it gives you real battery life every day. When I bought a used iPhone 13 Mini, it came with a 90 day return period, and I found out within 15 days that I had problems with the phone’s battery. If not, you might be looking at adding another $99 to pay Apple to replace the battery, which might be a bargain in terms of overall value.

You have a lot of options if you’re looking for an iPhone under $600

The iPhone 17E is a great option for a new phone. It has the latest processor, enough convenience features like MagSafe, and plenty of local storage for photos and videos. But it’s important to know your options when shopping within this price range for iOS devices, which — now that the iPhone SE line has been discontinued — are few and far between these days.

You can save money by going with the iPhone 15, especially if you’re upgrading from an older iPhone. Or if you’re comfortable with usage, you can get the iPhone 15 Pro, as long as you pay attention to potential problems like reduced battery capacity.

I’ve listed all the options and their details next to each other in the following chart for further comparison. That way, you can decide whether you’d rather get the new iPhone 17E or an older iPhone with potentially more features for the same price.