Tech review: iPhone 17e gets speed, storage bump for the same price

Jim Rossman, Tribune News Service on Apr 15, 2026

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Looking at products released in the last few years, you’ll notice Apple is paying more attention to the lower cost end of the market.

These would include the iPad at $349, the MacBook Neo at $599 and, the subject of this week’s review, the iPhone 17e.

Apple has a way of positioning products in price tiers. The iPhone 17 family includes the 17e starting at $599, the iPhone 17 starting at $799, the iPhone 17 Pro starting at $1,099 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max starting at $1,199.

What it is

The best value in the iPhone 17 lineup, the 17e is an easy phone to recommend for users who want an iPhone but don’t really stress about bigger screens or multiple cameras.

Apple introduced the “e” line of iPhones with the 16e last year, and the 17e improves on it in several areas.

The 17e uses the same A19 processor as the iPhone 17, which is powerful enough to do everything you’d need, including Apple Intelligence.

It has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display covered with Ceramic Shield 2 for very good scratch resistance. It has a resolution of 1,170 pixels by 2,532 pixels with 800 nits of brightness (1,200 nits peak).

Storage starts at 256 gigabytes, with an option for 512gb for another $200.

It’s IP68 water and dust resistant, which means dropping it in the pool won’t hurt it.

On the back, you’ll notice just one camera — a 48-megapixel fusion camera with a 26mm lens and a f/1.6 aperture. It offers a 2x telephoto or up to 10x digital zoom.

On the front, you’ll find a 12MP selfie camera.

Video recording options include capturing 4K videos up to 60 frames per second from both cameras.

The battery is capable of fast charging from zero to 50% in just 30 minutes if you use a 20-watt or higher USB charger. The USB-C port can transfer data at up to 480 Megabits per second.

It can provide up to 26 hours of video playback, and this year Apple has added MagSafe wireless charging (up to 15W) to the back of the 17e.

It is available in black, white or soft pink, and it measures 5.78 inches by 2.82 inches by 0.31 inches. It weighs just 5.96 ounces.

Like the other iPhone models, the 17e uses Face ID. It also includes Emergency SOS via satellite. It can also use satellite for Messages, Find My and roadside assistance.

It has Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, LTE and sub-6 GHz 5G. It has dual eSIM capabilities, but like the other iPhones, it has no physical SIM card slot.

What it is not

This isn’t Apple’s flagship phone, and it isn’t perfect.

The more expensive phones in Apple’s lineup have a 120Hz ProMotion display, while the 17e’s screen refreshes at 60Hz. This isn’t a big deal for everyday use. Higher refresh rates make scrolling and fast on-screen action look smoother.

It also does not have an always-on display or an ultra-wide camera.

Who is it for?

I’ve been using the iPhone 17e as my phone for the last few weeks and it has performed flawlessly.

I had been carrying the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and while the 17e is a step down in size, I haven’t noticed a big hit in usefulness.

The only thing I’ve really missed is the 8x telephoto lens on the 17 Pro Max. I tend to take a lot of pictures and while the 17e’s camera is great, I find myself wishing it had a longer reach.

This is a phone you should buy for your kids or your parents.

This is the perfect phone for my mom — who still loves the iPhone 16e she bought last year.

The 17e is fast, looks modern and will comfortably last at least five years.

Apple hasn’t compromised on the storage, the battery life or the quality of materials.

If you’re not the kind of person who pays attention to phone specs or worries if a phone will be powerful enough, then you’ll be quite happy with the 17e.