The next in line in Apple’s budget iPhone series—iPhone 17e—is finally here. And just like any other launch, there’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get down to it right away!
Price Point
Since the biggest attraction of the “e series” is the price point, I’m sure users are eager to know the deal that Apple is offering. The iPhone 17e price begins at ₹64,900 rupees and goes up to ₹84,900. However, the starting storage is the 256GB model, which is basically double the storage capacity at only ₹5,000 more compared to the previous iPhone 16e.
Interestingly enough, globally, there has been no change in the price as compared to the 16e. I guess we are paying extra because of the rising dollar conversions.
MagSafe
Apple has heard all the complaints about the omission of MagSafe from the budget iPhones and taken corrective action. The inclusion of MagSafe for the first time in the e-Series iPhone line will enable faster wireless charging and better accessory support. However, the charging won’t be as impressive as the pricier models—the iPhone 17e offers only up to 15W while the other iPhones of the series offer 25W max.
The iPhone 17e also supports USB-C wired charging for fast charging, but its maximum wired power is lower than the flagship models as well. Using a 20W charger and a standard USB-C cable, you can reach up to 50% battery in about 30 minutes whereas the iPhone 17 reaches 50% charge in just 20 minutes.
The battery life offers no improvement and remains the same as it was in iPhone 16e.
No Dynamic Island
The notch is intact, people! Contrary to the rumours that were making rounds before the launch, there isn’t going to be a Dynamic Island. I am sure some of you will be disappointed. As for others who weren’t a fan of the Dynamic Island, I suppose this is good news.
Ceramic Shield 2
The display is much hardier in the iPhone 17e, which is a welcome upgrade. The inclusion of Ceramic Shield 2 offers three times better scratch resistance than the previous generation. It’s basically the same screen protection that was added to the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro series. Kudos to Apple for extending it to the lower-cost model as well.
Camera
Not much has changed here—just routine upgrades. There’s an enhanced 48MP Fusion camera with optical 2× telephoto and improved portrait imaging.
Screen & Colours
The iPhone 17e has the same 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate as the iPhone 16e. However, there is a welcome surprise in the pink-colored model alongside the black and white ones, which looks delightful. Let’s all send a petition to Apple to bring more whimsical colors!
Speed and Performance
The iPhone 17e includes the latest-generation A19 with a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine, which is hardly a surprise as the chip is present in all the 17 series iPhones. However, the chip is slightly less powerful than the one used in iPhone 17—but we are not complaining, because—well, have you looked at the price tag?
A new and better chip automatically means faster and better performance across the board. Gaming visuals are expected to see much improvement, and so are the AI features. Connectivity is also faster now with an upgrade from the C1 to the C1X cellular modem.
Conclusion
iPhone 17e is a very decent phone at the price point it is being offered. For users who want the Apple experience or even upgrade without paying flagship prices, this model strikes a practical balance between performance and value. It may not have all the bells and whistles of the premium models, but it delivers where it matters most for everyday use.
The iPhone 17e will be available for pre-orders starting tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, with availability in over 70 countries from Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
