The new iPhone 17e is a fact and this model seems to be here to stay. For the second year in a row, Apple is introducing a modified entry-level model within the current premium series. The iPhone 17e has many similarities with the iPhone 17, but comes with an outdated casing.
It is still unclear whether the iPhone 17e will be a great success, given the slightly high suggested retail price and the lack of significant innovations. Which iPhone is the best choice? We compare the facts and specifications to give you a clear overview of the new device.
Differences iPhone 17e â–¸ iPhone 16e
- Ceramic Shield 2 on the front for 3 times better scratch resistance
- A19 chip with 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU with Neural Accelerators
- 48MP Fusion camera system (wide-angle lens)
- Latest generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control
- Wireless charging with MagSafe up to 15 W with adapter of 20 W or more
- Support for Qi2 up to 25W
- Compatible with MagSafe accessories
- C1X network chip: energy-efficient modem for fast and reliable 5G mobile connectivity
- Standard 256 GB storage
iPhone 17 â–¸ iPhone 16e
In the overview below we list the possibilities and functions of the iPhone 17 compared to the iPhone 17e. This means that the options, capabilities and hardware below are better or more advanced compared to 17e.
- 17: Super Retina ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rate up to 120 Hz and Always-On display.
- 17th: Super Retina XDR display, 800 nits max brightness (standard) and 1200 nits peak brightness (HDR).
- 17: A19 chip with 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, including support for Apple Intelligence
- 17e: A19 chip with 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU, including support for Apple Intelligence
- 17:18MP Center Stage front camera for photos and video calls, including Dual Capture and easy switching between landscape and portrait
- 17th: TrueDepth front camera for 12MP photos
- 17: Vertically positioned dual camera system with a fusion standard lens: 48 MP, aperture Æ’/1.6 with anti-reflective coating (limits lens flare) and ultra-wide angle with 48 MP and aperture Æ’/2.2. Optical image stabilization with sensor shift
- 17th: 2-in-1 camera system with a fusion standard lens: 48 MP, aperture Æ’/1.6. Optical image stabilization.
- 17: Macro Photography, Spatial Photos, Advanced Next Generation Portraits with Focus and Depth Control, Next Generation Photographic Styles
- 17e: Advanced Portrait Mode with Depth Control and previous generation Photographic Styles.
- 17: Movie mode for video recording with shallow depth of field (up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps), Action mode, Spatial video recording in 1080p at 30 fps and Macro video recording, including slo‑mo and timelapse.
- 17th: no support
- 17: Wireless charging with MagSafe (25W), Qi2 (25W) and Qi (7.5W)
- 17e: Wireless charging with MagSafe (15W), Qi2 (15W) and Qi (7.5W)
- 17: Battery life of video playback up to 30 hours and video streaming up to 27 hours
- 17th: Battery life of video playback up to 26 hours and video streaming up to 21 hours
Only for the iPhone 17
- Dynamic Island
- Camera controller: extra pressure-sensitive button for taking photos and videos
- Second generation Ultra Wideband chip
- N1 chip network chip for WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread
- Available in the colors lavender, sage green, mist blue, white and black
- Extensive information about the iPhone 17
Switching to an iPhone 17e
Do you own an iPhone 14, 15, 16 or iPhone 16e? Then there are no significant improvements that are really worth switching to the iPhone 17e now, it may be better to wait for the iPhone 18.
Have you always bought an iPhone SE or do you still own an iPhone 13 or older? Then the new 17th is a nice progress and highly recommended. Please note that the price has increased significantly compared to the SE models, from € 479 to € 719.
