I tested the i Phone 17e, and it's an even better budget i Phone thanks to more storage, faster performance, and a smarter camera | Tech Radar

Overview

I tested the i Phone 17e, and it's an even better budget i Phone thanks to more storage, faster performance, and a smarter camera

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The i Phone 17e doesn’t reinvent Apple’s budget i Phone, but it meaningfully refines the formula introduced with the i Phone 16e. With the A19 chip, double the starting storage at 256GB, and the long-awaited addition of Mag Safe — all for the same starting price — the 17e feels like a more complete and modern member of the i Phone lineup.

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The Apple i Phone 17e isn’t a total reinvention of Apple’s budget i Phone — rather, it’s a refinement of the formula introduced by the Apple i Phone 16e. That phone did the heavy lifting by modernizing the design and retiring the Home button that defined the Apple i Phone SE (3rd generation); the 17e simply makes the package more compelling.

Some of that freshness comes with a new Soft Pink color option alongside Black and White, but the bigger upgrades are under the hood. The i Phone 17e runs on 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

The camera setup remains simple, with just a single 48-megapixel rear lens, but Apple has improved what it can do. Portrait shots now benefit from smarter depth detection, letting you add the blur effect after taking the photo, and image processing still delivers the natural colors and reliability people expect from an i Phone.

There are compromises, though. You won’t get the multiple cameras, high-refresh-rate display, or always-on screen found on pricier i Phones like the Apple i Phone 17 or Apple i Phone 17 Pro. If an ultra-wide camera matters to you, the i Phone 16 or i Phone 17 is a better option.

But for anyone who simply wants a modern i Phone that doesn’t break the bank, the i Phone 17e delivers exactly that. It’s an especially easy upgrade if you’re coming from an i Phone SE, an i Phone 11, or anything older.

With double the storage, and a couple of headline new features, you might expect that the i Phone 17e would cost more than the i Phone 16e, but Apple has kept the starting price the same.

The i Phone 17e starts at

Outwardly there's no real difference between the i Phone 17e and the i Phone 16e – it still feels like a modern i Phone, albeit a little more sparse on the back compared to the mainline models with a single camera, but it’s largely crafted with the same premium materials we’ve come to expect.

There is a new color option with the i Phone 17e, and you now have three choices, much like we saw with the last-generation i Phone SE. Like the 16e the 17e comes in Black and White, and there's also a Soft Pink option, which is the color of my review unit. Depending on how the light hits it, the ultra-blush nature of the color can be hard to spot, but when it hits just right it’s a lovely and, yes, soft shade of pink, and I especially like how it looks on the aluminum sides all around.

The gloss-finished Apple logo centered on the rear can be hard to spot at times, as it can blend right into the matte soft pink finish. All in all it’s a lovely color addition, and it could make the 17e a whole lot more appealing.

The other change is hidden underneath the back panel: the i Phone 17e has full Mag Safe, meaning the magnetic ring works with a treasure trove of accessories, from the Apple-made Fine Woven Wallet and third-party accessories from the likes of Pop Sockets to Octobuddys, to charging stands from Belkin and Anker. This was a key missing feature on the 16e, and it makes the i Phone 17e feel more like a truly modern i Phone.

Yes, it has a notch in the display and lacks an ultra-wide or telephoto camera, but otherwise it feels very much like a member of the i Phone 17 family. The corners are a bit sharper — the i Phone 17, i Phone 17 Air, and i Phone 17 Pro and Pro Max are a bit more rounded — but when the display is off, and from the front, you wouldn't notice much of a difference.

The i Phone 17e has the same dimensions as the 16e, with both phones measuring 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm, but the addition of Mag Safe means the i Phone 17e weighs slightly more, at 169 grams versus the 167 grams of the 16e.

There’s a USB-C port on the bottom flanked by speakers and a microphone, the main power button on the right-hand side, and the customizable Action button, as well as volume up and volume down, on the left side. It's essentially the button layout we’ve come to expect on the i Phone, with Camera Control being the only button missing here.

The i Phone 17e is still plenty durable, with the same IP68 resistance spec as the 16e. That means it can survive for up to 30 minutes in up to six meters of water, and the display — more on that below — is Ceramic Shield 2 like the rest of the i Phone 17 lineup, which Apple says makes it three times more scratch resistant than models without that material.

While the i Phone 17 ushered in a major glow-up for the base i Phone’s display, the Apple i Phone 17e isn’t getting the same treatment. That means there’s no always-on display here, and the refresh rate hasn’t been upgraded to a buttery-smooth 120 Hz.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. If you’re coming from an i Phone SE (3rd generation) or anything older than the i Phone 11, you’ll still get a pretty sizable display upgrade. The i Phone 17e features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with a 2532 x 1170 resolution at 460 pixels per inch. It towers over the 4.7-inch screen on the SE, and offers a much more immersive view than the i Phone 11, stretching much closer to the bezels.

Apple also includes some of its usual display perks here. The panel supports True Tone, which adjusts the color warmth depending on the environment you’re in, alongside Wide Color (P3) support for richer hues. It can also reach up to 1,200 nits of brightness for HDR content.

In everyday use colors look punchy, contrast is strong, and it’s excellent for watching videos, scrolling web pages, responding to emails, or hopping on Face Time calls. If you’re not coming from a device with an always-on display or a high refresh rate, the screen here will still feel plenty modern.

Maybe the one oddball feature — or the biggest tell that this is using an older i Phone frame — is the notch. Apple first brought it back with the Apple i Phone 16e, and it returns again on the 17e instead of the Dynamic Island. It still cuts slightly into content, but not in a way that feels particularly intrusive. Inside that notch sits the 12-megapixel front-facing camera, alongside the True Depth sensor stack, which powers Face ID for unlocking the phone and securely authenticating purchases, or parts of i OS.

Apple i Phone 17e: Software and Apple Intelligence

Like the rest of the i Phone 17 lineup, the i Phone 17e is running i OS 26 out of the box — specifically i OS 26.3 — and the standout feature of this platform is Liquid Glass, which freshens up the whole experience and adds to the all-round 'modern' feel.

Apple even pairs the Soft Pink model with a matching wallpaper that looks excellent, with layered shapes that resemble flower petals, each one appearing like slabs of pink glass blending together. As for Liquid Glass and the layers of i OS, you’ll find that elements of an app and the interface live more cohesively. For instance, Control Center is still very actionable and fully customizable, but it will let you see what’s behind it, though translucency can vary.

Alongside the updated user interface, and now nearly seven months out from its launch, many app developers have rolled out their own take on Liquid Glass.

As on other i Phones you can customize the Action Button — within Settings select Action Button and then swipe between the options — to tailor the 17e experience a bit. You can quickly open the camera, another favorite app, or even trigger a customized workflow using Shortcuts.

i OS 26 also introduced a redesigned Phone app for a more modern look that puts Favorites at the top and Recents right below it — but don’t worry, if you don’t like this change you can switch back.

Many top control bars are now positioned at the bottom, making them easier to reach, and Messages got a serious glow-up with the ability to customize the background for any given chat, whether it’s one-on-one or a group message.

Apple Intelligence is fully supported on the i Phone 17e, meaning you can create custom emojis dubbed Genmojis, remove unwanted photobombers or objects in pictures with Clean Up, summarize notifications, and even use Visual Intelligence with screenshots to figure out what something is, or add something to your calendar by snapping a photo of a poster.

Apple’s roster of AI features is still growing, but the major AI-powered Siri is still billed as “coming soon.” I wouldn’t buy the i Phone 17e just for that promise, but when Apple is ready to ship it the feature will be supported here, thanks to the A19 chip under the hood — essentially the same processor that powers the i Phone 17, albeit with one fewer GPU core.

While you might think of Mag Safe as being mainly for accessories or faster wireless charging, it also enables Stand By mode when the i Phone 17e is placed on a Mag Safe dock, or plugged in and turned sideways. It works best on a wireless Mag Safe stand, and essentially enables the 17e to serve as a mini smart display, with the 6.1-inch screen showing the time in any of several different styles. You can also swipe between widgets like weather or stocks, or even run a slideshow of photos. If it’s sitting on your desk or nightstand, the option to have notifications — like messages or emails — briefly appear on-screen is handy.

You can now apply the Portrait effect after a photo is taken

Yes, there’s a considerable price difference — and a major difference in overall design — between the i Phone 17e and the i Phone 17 Air, but the camera setup is actually quite similar. Both of these i Phones have just a single camera on the back, and it’s clear that some of the gains — specifically around Portrait Mode with just one lens — from the Air have trickled down to the 17e.

Like the Apple i Phone 16e, the i Phone 17e features a single 48MP Fusion main camera with built-in optical image stabilization. You can shoot at either 1x or 2x, with the latter proving especially useful for portraits of people or pets. It’s a little surprising at this price point to have just one lens, but that’s the approach Apple has taken here. If you want two lenses — specifically the addition of an ultra-wide — you’ll need to spend more for something like the Apple i Phone 17 or even the Apple i Phone 16. And, if you’re willing to step outside the Apple ecosystem, phones like the Google Pixel 9a or Google Pixel 10a offer dual cameras for around the same price or less.

All that aside, the 48-megapixel sensor paired with the updated image pipeline powered by the A19 chip performs really well here. The i Phone 17e captures excellent shots with great detail and realistic colors — something we’ve come to expect from modern i Phones. It’s not a night-and-day difference compared to the 16e, but if you’re coming from an older i Phone you’ll notice the improvement when shooting everything from cityscapes to skies, pets, or people.

The real improvement here, though, is next-generation Portrait Mode. When you shoot a person, or a pet, using the standard Photo mode, the camera automatically detects depth and lets you add the bokeh effect afterwards. It works really well, and similarly to the i Phone Air, the i Phone 17e is surprisingly capable for single-lens portrait shots — even when it comes down to finer details like hair separation. It’s a welcome addition for Apple’s more affordable i Phone.

The front-facing camera remains a 12-megapixel lens, and it doesn’t get the wider field of view found on the i Phone 17 or Air. That means selfies with multiple people can sometimes feel like a bit of a game of Tetris. Still, it captures solid shots for selfies and Face Time calls — you can see some of the images I shot with the i Phone 17e in the gallery below.

It’s not the most flexible camera setup Apple offers, but for everyday shots the i Phone 17e still delivers the kind of results we've come to expect from an i Phone.

Probably my favorite upgrade to the i Phone 17e is the chip inside, and the storage paired with it. The 17e is powered by Apple’s A19 chip, which debuted in the i Phone 17, and starting storage has doubled from 128GB to 256GB, and this phone feel like great value, especially as the starting price is unchanged from last year.

It’s a slightly different version of the A19 to that found in the i Phone 17. Inside the 17e there's still a 3-nanometer chip made up of a six-core CPU — two performance cores and four efficiency cores, and a four-core GPU with accelerators, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Even with one fewer GPU core than the A19 in the i Phone 17, everything flies on the i Phone 17e. If you’re coming from an older smartphone, you’re going to notice a significant improvement.

With double the starting storage, you’ll also have plenty of room for apps, music, video downloads, and photos or videos captured with the 48-megapixel main camera or 12-megapixel selfie camera. In daily use, I found the 17e to be consistently responsive, and quick to deliver on whatever I asked it to do.

I was able to edit videos in i Movie, Cap Cut, or Edits, play games like Mini Metro, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Asphalt 9, and Real Flight Simulator, scroll through videos on Tik Tok or Instagram, respond to emails in Gmail or Mail, send messages, make calls, and browse the web, all without running into slowdowns. For everyday tasks it felt very similar to using the i Phone 17 Pro or i Phone 17 Air.

My qualitative experience with the i Phone 17e also closely matched the quantitative tests run by the Future team. The 17e scored 3,606 single-core and 9,292 multi-core on Geekbench 6.5, which is a decent leap over the Apple i Phone 16e, which scored 3,235 single-core and 8,056 multi-core. It’s also pretty close to the standard i Phone 17, which scored 3,701 single-core and 9,460 multi-core.

Beyond day-to-day performance, the i Phone 17e also features Apple’s latest modem, the C1X, which first appeared in the i Phone 17 Air. In my testing it worked well for cellular connectivity, and Apple says it’s up to twice as fast as the previous-generation C1 found in the 16e. I’ve been testing the i Phone 17e on AT&T’s network in the US, and I routinely saw full bars with 5G+, with download speeds averaging around 403 Mbps and upload speeds averaging about 27.4 Mbps up in the New Jersey area.

Mag Safe is here and offers 15-watt wireless charging

With no always-on display functionality, it might come as no surprise that the i Phone 17e easily clears the bar for all-day battery life. In typical Apple fashion, we don’t know the exact battery size inside — Apple just says to expect up to 26 hours of video playback. In my testing I routinely made it through a full day, even on busier days filled with video exports, Face Time calls, and plenty of texting while on the go. It's fair to say that the A19 chip paired with the C1X modem offers some welcome efficiencies.

The addition of Mag Safe isn’t just great for accessories and functionality within Apple’s ecosystem — remember, Mag Safe first premiered with the Apple i Phone 12 lineup. It also significantly improves wireless charging speeds compared to the Apple i Phone 16e or the Apple i Phone SE (3rd generation). In fact, it finally makes wireless charging feel genuinely usable here.

Rather than being limited to 7.5W on a standard wireless charging pad, Mag Safe allows the i Phone 17e to charge at up to 15W when paired with a compatible charger, although you will need to pair the Mag Safe charger with at least a 20W power adapter to reach those speeds. While the phone can get a bit warm midway through a charge, it cools down soon after.

For wired charging, the i Phone 17e ships with a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box worldwide. Pair it with a 20W power adapter and you can reach up to a 50% charge in about 30 minutes. That’s a welcome addition, and considering that this is the more affordable option in the i Phone lineup, it’s nice that you don’t need a more powerful — or more expensive — charger to get those speeds.

While it doesn’t arrive with multiple rear cameras or a notch-free display with a higher refresh rate or always-on functionality, the i Phone 17e certainly checks the battery box.

Identical design to the i Phone 16e, with a new Soft Pink color option.

Identical design to the i Phone 16e, with a new Soft Pink color option.

A great display, even with a notch and 60 Hz refresh rate.

A great display, even with a notch and 60 Hz refresh rate.

While there's just one lens, the 48-megapixel camera is plenty capable for 1x and 2x shots, plus you can add depth effects after the fact.

While there's just one lens, the 48-megapixel camera is plenty capable for 1x and 2x shots, plus you can add depth effects after the fact.

i OS 26 feels plenty fresh on the i Phone 17e, and the budget i Phone can take full advantage of the software.

i OS 26 feels plenty fresh on the i Phone 17e, and the budget i Phone can take full advantage of the software.

The A19 chip offers stellar performance, and gives us no concerns about longevity.

The A19 chip offers stellar performance, and gives us no concerns about longevity.

Apple's budget i Phone is better than even before, and keeps the same price

Apple's budget i Phone is better than even before, and keeps the same price

You have an older i Phone Moving to the 17e means a larger OLED display, much faster performance, better cameras, and significantly improved battery life. It’s an easy upgrade if your current i Phone is a few generations old, like an i Phone SE or a model older than the i Phone 11.

You're okay with just one camera The single 48-megapixel camera might not be the most flexible setup Apple offers, but it still captures detailed shots with natural colors, and the improved portrait detection adds some extra versatility.

You want the best i Phone possible If you want the best cameras, performance, or screen, or the most modern design, you'll want to look at the i Phone 17, 17 Pro or 17 Pro Max, or the i Phone Air.

You want a flexibile, fun camera setup With just one camera, the i Phone 17e might leave you wanting more. If you want an ultra-wide consider the i Phone 17 or i Phone 16, or for the most complete setup look at the i Phone 17 Pro or 17 Pro Max

I've been testing the Apple i Phone 17e for nearly a week to complete this review, and my unit was Apple’s new budget i Phone in Soft Pink. After unboxing the device, I set it up fresh, signed in with my Apple Account, activated an e SIM, and began downloading my most-used apps — along with several testing apps — to make myself at home.

I then customized the i OS 26 experience a bit to get an early feelf or the A19 chip inside, and continued using it throughout the week for a mix of productivity, creative, gaming, and everyday apps to see how the i Phone 17e performed. To gauge battery life, I tracked how long it lasted each day, and I tested different options recharging the phone.

To test the cameras — both the main and selfie — I took many photos of varying subjects in different lighting conditions to test the sensor and image processing.

I also compared the i Phone 17e with several other phones, including the i Phone SE (3rd generation), i Phone 17, i Phone Air, i Phone 17 Pro Max, Google Pixel 10a, and Google Pixel 9a to better evaluate performance, camera quality, and overall value.

Jacob Krol is the US Managing Editor, News for Tech Radar. He’s been writing about technology since he was 14 when he started his own tech blog. Since then Jacob has worked for a plethora of publications including CNN Underscored, The Street, Parade, Men’s Journal, Mashable, CNET, and CNBC among others.

He specializes in covering companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google and going hands-on with mobile devices, smart home gadgets, TVs, and wearables. In his spare time, you can find Jacob listening to Bruce Springsteen, building a Lego set, or binge-watching the latest from Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars.

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Key Takeaways

• I tested the i Phone 17e, and it's an even better budget i Phone thanks to more storage, faster performance, and a smarter camera

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• The i Phone 17e doesn’t reinvent Apple’s budget i Phone, but it meaningfully refines the formula introduced with the i Phone 16e

• We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best

• The Apple i Phone 17e isn’t a total reinvention of Apple’s budget i Phone — rather, it’s a refinement of the formula introduced by the Apple i Phone 16e