Apple has announced the iPhone 17e, a powerful and more affordable option in the iPhone 17 lineup. The new iPhone 17e runs on the latest A19 chip, delivering strong performance in routine tasks. It also includes the C1X cellular model, which is up to twice as fast as the C1 in the iPhone 16e. The 48 MP fusion camera delivers high-quality photos, next-generation portraits, and 4K Dolby Vision video with its optical-quality 2x telephoto lens. Users get the benefits of two cameras in one. The 6.1-inch Super Retina HDR display features Ceramic Shield 2, which is three times more scratch-resistant than before and reduces glare. MagSafe enables fast wireless charging and easy-to-use accessories, such as chargers and cases, when users are away from home. Cellular and Wi-Fi coverage satellite features, such as Emergency SOS, roadside assistance messages, and Find My Via Satellite, help them stay connected when it matters most.
The iPhone 17 comes in three colors with a premium matte finish:
- Black
- White
- A soft new pink
Pre-orders start on Wednesday, March 4, and the phone will be available beginning Wednesday, March 11.
The starting model offers 256 GB of storage for $599, which is double the entry of storage of the previous generation at the same price and four times that of the iPhone 12. This gives users more room for:
- High-def photos
- 4K videos
- Apps
- Games
- More
iPhone 17e combines powerful performance and features our users love at an exceptional value, making it a persuasive option for customers looking to upgrade to the iPhone 17 family, said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of worldwide iPhone product marketing. We know our customers want a product that will last, and the iPhone 17e provides exactly that with:
- A19 for incredible performance
- durable double the entry storage
- a smarter camera system
- augmented durability
iPhone 17e is designed to stay fast, secure, and valuable for years to come.
A Beautiful Design With Greater Durability
iPhones keep their value longer than other smartphones, and the iPhone 17e is built to last. It has a strong yet lightweight aerospace-grade aluminum design and is splash-, water-, and dust-resistant with an IP68 rating. The ceramic shield to the front cover used across the iPhone 17 family is tougher than any other smartphone glass. An Apple-designed coating gives it three times better scratch resistance than the previous generation and helps reduce glare.
The super-super Retina XDR display with OLED technology delivers an exceptional viewing experience. Whether users are streaming videos in Dolby Vision or playing games with up to 1200 nits peak HDR brightness, content is easy to see even on bright days. Face ID gives users a simple and secure way to unlock the iPhone 17E, make purchases, sign in to Apps, and more. The action button lets users quickly access favorite features like the Flash Light, Visual Intelligence, and more with a single press.
Powerful Performance And Exceptional Efficiency
iPhone 17e features the latest generation A19, built with advanced 3nm technology, providing powerful performance and exceptional efficiency, faster than iPhone 11. It handles everything from simple tasks like viewing photos to advanced Apple Intelligence capabilities like clean up. The four-core GPU with neural accelerators unlocks console-level gaming on the go, supporting demanding AAA titles and hardware-accelerated ray tracing for more realistic lighting and reflections. The upgraded 16-core Neural Engine is optimized for large generative models and, combined with neural accelerators built into each GPU, enables Apple intelligence and other AI models to run faster than on the previous generation.
The iPhone 17E also includes Apple’s C1X cellular modem. C1X is up to twice as fast as the C1 in the iPhone 16E and equals the speed of the iPhone Air. It uses 30% less energy than the modem in the iPhone 16 Pro, helping to provide excellent all-day battery life.
Excellent Battery Life, Fast Charging, And MagSafe
The iPhone 17e offers excellent all-day battery life thanks to efficient Apple silicon, the C1X model, and advanced power management in iOS 26, with fast wired charging through USB-C. It can reach 50% charging in about 30 minutes. The iPhone 17e also supports MagSafe and G2 for fast wireless charging up to 15 W, compared to 7.5 W with G2 on the iPhone 16e. MagSafe chargers, stands, cases, wallets, camera accessories, and more attach easily to the back of the iPhone 17e, making it simple to use a wide range of accessories.
An Advanced Camera System to Capture Daily Moments
iPhone 17e takes gorgeous photos with excellent detail capture, including low light with Night mode. The 48MP fusion camera delivers optical quality 2x telephoto, giving users two cameras in one so they can get closer to the subject and easily frame their shot. Users can shoot sharp photos at up to 48MP resolution or capture in the 24MP default for incredible image quality at a file size perfect for storing and sharing.
Portrait Mode Improves. Thanks to an advanced image pipeline, delivering remarkably natural depth and smooth bokeh that gracefully blurs the background while keeping subjects sharp. The advanced pipeline also enables text-generation portraits: iPhone 17e recognizes people, dogs, and cats and automatically saves depth information, allowing users to turn photos into beautiful portraits with background blur after capture and to adjust the focus point in the Photos app. The latest generation of HDR captures subjects with true-to-life skin tones and ensures bright highlights, rich midtones, and deep shadows throughout the image, while preserving fine details.
The iPhone 17E takes stunning photos and records high-quality 4K Dolby Vision videos at up to 60 times 60 frames per second. It also captures video with spatial audio for an immersive experience with AirPods or Apple Vision Pro. It offers more ways to edit video sound with Audio Mix and Wind Noise Reduction. It uses advanced machine learning to automatically remove unwanted noise, resulting in cleaner audio and improved communication.
iPhone 17E helps users stay connected and get help when needed. If users are outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, they can:
- text friends and family with messages via satellite
- Contact emergency services with Emergency SOS via satellite
- reach roadside assistance providers
With Roadside Assistance via Satellite, the FindMy app lets users share their location via satellite, giving friends and family peace of mind while traveling off the grid. Crash detection can sense a severe car accident. Call emergency services if the user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone.
The iPhone 17E comes with iOS 26, which features a new design, powerful Apple intelligence, and useful updates to everyday apps. The liquid glass design makes apps and the system experience more expressive, puts more focus on content, keeps iOS familiar, and adds new ways to personalize the iPhone.
Apple intelligence lets users communicate in different languages with live translation in Messages and FaceTime on iPhone and with AirPods. Visual Intelligence now works on the phone screen, so users can search, ask questions, and take action on what they see, helping reduce distractions. Call Screening can filter calls from unknown numbers and ask the reason for calling, while Hold Assist can wait for the line until a live agent is available in messages. Users can now filter messages from unknown genders into a separate folder to keep the conversation list organized.
iPhone 17e And The Environment
Apple 2030 is the company’s plan to become carbon-neutral across its entire operations by the end of this decade, by cutting emissions from materials, electricity, and transportation. The iPhone 17E is made with 30% recycled content, including 85% recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100% recycled cobalt in the battery. It is produced using 55% renewable electricity, such as wind and solar, throughout the supply chain. The iPhone 17E is built to be durable and repairable, offers leading software support, and meets Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safe materials. The paper packaging is made entirely from fiber and can be easily recycled.
Source: Apple introduces iPhone 17e
