Apple’s first {hardware} launch of 2026—not counting the second-generation AirTag it debuted on the finish of January—is the following iteration of the price-friendly iPhone: the iPhone 17e. The corporate introduced the handset through a web based press launch, forward of its “Particular Apple Expertise” in New York Metropolis this Wednesday.
Whereas final yr’s iPhone 16e was broadly criticized for its questionable worth—it changed the iPhone “SE” fashions from yesteryear and jacked the value up from $429 to $599—the newer mannequin within the collection has some notable options that had been lacking in its predecessor, like Apple’s MagSafe expertise and the Dynamic Island. The value stays agency at $599 regardless of the difficult financial atmosphere and the reminiscence scarcity.
The iPhone 17e opens for preorder at this time and will likely be broadly out there on March 11.
E for Effort
Apple has caught with the identical 6.1-inch OLED show because the iPhone 16e, all the way down to the identical old-school notch design. Meaning you will not get the glossy look of the Dynamic Island, which additionally doubles as a dwell notifications show. Fortunately, for those who’re frightened about sturdiness, this iPhone has the identical Ceramic Defend 2 entrance glass defending the show as its pricier siblings, giving it a pleasant energy enhance from the earlier technology.
Apple did not improve the display with its ProMotion refresh charge tech, because it’s caught at 60 Hz. This functionality is the variety of occasions the display refreshes with photos—the upper the higher, as your show will seem smoother, with interactions feeling extra fluid. It is one thing the corporate has supplied within the iPhone Professional fashions, and eventually enabled in 2025 with its total iPhone 17 vary, however you may need to improve for the posh. It is a disgrace, as most funds Android telephones provide 120 Hz as customary, even gadgets as low-cost as $200. That additionally means the iPhone 17e would not have the choice to allow an always-on show.
Arguably, the most effective improve is the addition of MagSafe, the magnetic ring that has been embedded at the back of mainline iPhones because the iPhone 12. Apple confusingly did not embody it with the iPhone 16e regardless of a wholesome accent market that may have made the iPhone 16e somewhat extra versatile. Whereas the 16e supported primary wi-fi charging, the iPhone 17e takes benefit of sooner magnetic wi-fi charging at 15 watts (plus entry to MagSafe equipment).
This iPhone is powered by the A19 chipset, which debuted on the iPhone 17, although it has one much less graphics core, so graphics efficiency is a small step beneath. That is in step with what Apple did with the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16 that got here earlier than. Apple did not share RAM particulars but, nevertheless it’s doubtless that the iPhone 17e has 8 GB of RAM like its predecessor, whereas the remainder of the iPhone 17 lineup has 12 GB.
Courtesy of Apple
