The mid-range part of the phone market is really heating up, and while Google recently announced its refreshed take on the category, Apple isn’t far behind.
With the iPhone 16e now roughly a year old, its replacement is ready to go, as well.
Launched in a week where Apple is expected to have quite a few announcements, Apple’s iPhone 17e is also on the way set to replace the 16e before it.
Design-wise, not a lot has changed, though there is a new colour (pink), with the main focus on a device that keeps value a part of the equation.
Like the 16e before it, the iPhone 17e will take the standard iPhone from that range complete with the same A19 processor, opting for the same smallish 6.1 inch OLED screen and much of the experience, but reducing the cameras to one.
It’s a little like the iPhone Air in how it handles cameras, but looks like the iPhone 17 in the process. Ish.
The camera will be the same 48 megapixel wide camera also offering a 2x zoom using cropping, but forgoing the ultra-wide camera found on the iPhone 17. But the rest of the phone is largely like that standard 17 model, and that includes support for Emergency SOS and satellite connections when needed.
It will also get three useful features added to the package: double the storage, MagSafe, and improved durability.
The latter two mean the iPhone 17e gets an upgraded version of the Ceramic Shield, and now supports the same magnetic accessories found across pretty much the current entire iPhone range, barring that of the iPhone 16e. One of those missing features last time that we questioned, it’s now here on the iPhone 17e, and that’s handy for the number of stands, docks, and wallets you can find to date.
Qi2 is also a part of the package with MagSafe, maxing out at 15 watts, compared with the 7.5W non-magnetic Qi (gen 1) in the iPhone 16e.
The storage is also a win, with the Apple iPhone 17e starting at 256GB, but also retaining its $999 price in Australia. That is undoubtedly better value, you now get more for the same price, a change we didn’t expect.
That now makes the comparison between the Google Pixel 10a and the Apple iPhone 17e a little more direct: for the 256GB size, they now both cost $999, while the Pixel 10a starts at $849 for a 128GB variation. Unlike Google, Apple will also make a 512GB model for $1399.
Australians can expect to see the iPhone 17e in stores from March 11, with pre-orders kicking in from March 5.
