In summary:
- Macworld explores Apple’s iPhone 17e, a budget device launching March 2026 at $599 for 256GB storage, featuring the A19 chip and new C1X cellular modem.
- The device offers significant upgrades including MagSafe wireless charging, doubled base storage, and 30% faster graphics performance compared to the iPhone 16e predecessor.
- Key improvements include faster 5G connectivity, enhanced AI capabilities, and better energy efficiency, making it a compelling option for budget-conscious consumers seeking modern features.
Apple has introduced the iPhone 17e in black, white, and a new soft pink finish. Although the starting price hasn’t changed, the new iPhone is effectively $100 cheaper than the predecessor was, because it now starts with twice as much storage.
Apple iPhone 17e release date & availability
Pre-orders will begin on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, with availability in over 70 countries from Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
Once the iPhone 17e is on sale it will be available to purchase from Apple, via carriers, and from third-party stockists including Amazon (in the U.K.).
Apple iPhone 17e price
- From $599
- $100 cheaper than equivalent iPhone 16e
The iPhone 17e starts at $599/£599 for the 256GB model. This is the same price point as the iPhone 16e with the additional benefit that this is double the base storage compared to the previous generation.
So the price of the iPhone 17e is actually $100 less than the equivalent model of the iPhone 16e. The lower price could be possible due to reduced costs. In a January 2026 report, Wccftech suggested that Apple has been able to reduce costs for the new iPhone 17e, thanks to lower costs for the OLED panels Apple is using.
Here’s how the pricing compares for the two generations:
| 128GB | 256GB | 512GB | |
| iPhone 16e | $599 / £599 | $699 / £699 | $899 / £899 |
| iPhone 17e | – | $599 / £599 | $799 / £799 |
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e: How much better is the iPhone 17e?
Apple
Apple’s decision to introduce the iPhone 16e in February 2025 represented a significant shift in its product strategy. This was driven by several strategic imperatives, ranging from the necessity of supporting new AI technologies to the desire to test in-house hardware components in a lower-risk environment.
To maintain a starting price of $599 for the iPhone 16e, while including the high-end A18 chip, Apple made several calculated omissions that differentiate the 16e from the standard iPhone 16. The iPhone 17e addresses some of the main shortcomings of the iPhone 16e.
The new iPhone 17e offers 256GB storage at the entry level and MagSafe charging is now offered.
The display is more hardy in the iPhone 17e thanks to the inclusion of Ceramic Shield 2 with three times better scratch resistance, according to Apple. The rumored switch from the notch to Dynamic Island was unfounded however.
Here’s how the two iPhones compare:
| Specification / Feature | iPhone 17e | iPhone 16e |
|---|---|---|
| Launch / Release | March 2, 2026 / March 11, 2026 | February 2025 |
| Price | 256GB: $599 / £599 512GB: $799 / £799 | 128GB: $599 / £599 256GB: $699 / £699 512GB: $899 / £899 |
| Design & Display | 6.1-inch OLED, 60 Hz, black and white color options, Ceramic Shield 2 (Front) | 6.1-inch OLED, 60 Hz, black and white color options, Ceramic Shield (Front) |
| Chip (CPU / Performance) | A19 chip, 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU with Neural Accelerators | A18 chip, 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU |
| Modem / Connectivity | C1X modem + N1 wireless chip | C1 modem (5G) |
| MagSafe Support & Charging Speeds | MagSafe (15W with 20W adapter) | No MagSafe (Qi only, up to 7.5W) |
| Base Storage | From 256GB | From 128GB |
| RAM | From 256GB | 8GB |
| Rear Camera | 48 MP single camera | 48 MP single camera |
| Front Camera | 12 MP TrueDepth camera | 12 MP TrueDepth camera |
Apple iPhone 17e processor: How fast is the iPhone 17e?
- Chip: Latest-generation A19 with 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine.
The iPhone 17e incudes the A19 chip, as found in the rest of the iPhone 17-series, which is no surprise. Compared to the A18 in the iPhone 16e, it offers a number of improvements and should feel faster and more responsive for everyday tasks.
This variant is slightly less powerful than the A19 chip used by the iPhone 17, though. Apple uses binned chips in the “e” series, so the A18 in the iPhone 16e had one fewer GPU core than the A18 in the standard iPhone 16; and the A19 in the iPhone 17e also has one fewer GPU core than the iPhone 17: 4-core GPU rather than a 5-core GPU.
The biggest gains are for graphics performance, with the A19 around 30% faster than the A18. This should lend itself to smoother gameplay and faster graphics rendering.
AI features will benefit from improvements to the 16-core Neural Engine and the Neural Accelerators associated which the GPU.
Apple iPhone 17e design: Does the iPhone 17e look different?
Apple
The design hasn’t changed, despite rumors that the iPhone 17e could replace the notch with a Dynamic Island like the other iPhone handsets.
The iPhone 17e also has the same 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, as the iPhone 16e.
However, the new pink color option is a welcome addition and likely to be popular. The iPhone 16e was only available in black or white.
Apple iPhone 17e connectivity: How the C1X will benefit the iPhone 17e
- Upgraded from C1 to C1X cellular modem for faster connectivity.
Apple’s C1 modem, Apple’s own 5G baseband chip, first appeared in the iPhone 16e. The newer C1X modem, which is apparently two times faster than the C1 while using 30% less energy, features in the iPhone 17 Air. Now it makes it’s appearance in the iPhone 17e.
Like the C1, the C1X supports modern 5G (sub-6 GHz) connectivity, but it offers about two times faster 5G speeds and is more power efficient, compared to the C1. The C1X doesn’t support mmWave 5G (which is offered by the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max).
Apple iPhone 17e battery: How much faster does the new iPhone 17e charge?
Apple
- MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging up to 15 W
- Faster USB-C wired charging
The new iPhone 17e supports MagSafe, which was a notable omission from the iPhone 16e. The inclusion of MagSafe for the first time in this line will enable faster wireless charging and accessory support.
MagSafe wireless charging is inferior to that on the other iPhones though, at up to about 15W max, compared to 25W max for the iPhone 17 series.
The iPhone 17e also supports USB-C wired charging for fast charging, but its maximum wired power is lower than the flagship models. With a 20W charger and standard USB-C cable, you should get up to 50% recharge in 30 minutes, but that is not as fast as high-end models; the iPhone 17 charges 50% in 20 minutes.
Battery life is unchanged from the iPhone 16e, at up to 26 hours video playback, according to Apple. The iPhone 17 offers 30 hours.
What else has changed compared to the iPhone 16e?
There are a variety of other improvements compared to the previous generation, including a new pink model and twice as much storage at the entry-level while maintaining the same price as before.
- Storage: Base storage doubled to 256GB at the same starting price.
- Camera enhancements: Enhanced 48 MP Fusion camera with optical 2× telephoto and improved portrait imaging.
- Display & durability: More durable ceramic shield with reduced glare and high brightness.
Author: Karen Haslam, Managing Editor, Macworld
Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld more than two decades ago. Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Having edited the U.K. print and online editions of Macworld for many years, more recently her focus has been on SEO and evergreen content as well as product recommendations and buying advice.