Apple iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: Are the extra $200 worth it?
The iPhone 17e goes against the iPhone 17, but which one's the smarter buy? | Image by PhoneArena
Apple has just officially unveiled the iPhone 17e, its new most affordable iPhone.
The iPhone 17e replaces the iPhone 16e and adds a few big upgrades including MagSafe support, double the storage and a faster chip, all at the same $600 starting price.
With so many improvements, is the iPhone 17e now the iPhone most people should go for? And what are the few advantages left for the $800 iPhone 17?
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17 differences:
| iPhone 17e | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|
| Display with a notch | Display with Dynamic Island |
| No Camera Control button | Camera Control button |
| Smaller 6.1-inch OLED display | Larger 6.3-inch OLED with higher brightness |
| 60Hz | 120Hz ProMotion |
| No Always-on display | Has Always-on display |
| Apple A19 chip with 8 GB of RAM | A19 chip with slightly better GPU but same 8 GB RAM |
| 4,005 mAh | 3,692 mAh battery |
| 20W wired charging | Faster 40W wired charging |
| 15W MagSafe | 25W MagSafe |
| A single 48MP rear camera | Dual camera system with one 48 MP main and 48 MP ultrawide |
| Apple C1X chip and N1 chip for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Thread support | Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 5G modem |
| Cheaper starting at $600 | More expensive at $800 |
Table of Contents:
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Design and Display Quality
Similarly small with some small differences
Both the iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 are compact phones, but there are some slight differences.
In terms of aesthetics, there's nothing new here: both employ the same style as their predecessor, with the now standard aluminum frame and flat glass panels at the front and in the rear.
The iPhone 17e, however, doesn't feature the new Camera Control button and also lacks the Dynamic Island (the iPhone 17 has them both), as it is equipped with the older-style notch.
Both phones share the same IP68 water and dust resistance.
|
|
| Apple iPhone 17e | Apple iPhone 17 |
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm | 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm (~9.3 mm with camera bump) |
| Weight | |
| 169.0 g | 177.0 g |
See the full
Apple iPhone 17e vs Apple iPhone 17 specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
In terms of color options, the iPhone 17 arrives in Black, White, Sage, Lavender, and Mist Blue, while the iPhone 17e has a more limited color palette of white, black, and soft rose.
Apple has not changed the screen on the iPhone 17e, so it still comes with a 6.1-inch screen, while the 17 has a slightly larger 6.3-inch display. It's a small difference, but I, personally, appreciate the extra screen space on the iPhone 17.
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 17e | Apple iPhone 17 |
| Size | |
|---|---|
| 6.1-inch | 6.3-inch |
| Type | |
| OLED, 60Hz | OLED, 120Hz |
See the full
Apple iPhone 17e vs Apple iPhone 17 specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
Probably the most significant difference between these two is the refresh rate. While the iPhone 17e runs at 60Hz, the iPhone 17 features a 120 Hz ProMotion display. This makes for much smoother swiping and scrolling on the iPhone 17.
The iPhone 17e also has significantly lower peak brightness, which makes it a bit difficult to see outdoors on a sunny day.
Display Measurements:
Face ID is the biometric functionality of choice on both devices. It's fast and reliable––there's nothing not to like here.
Performance and Software
Similar performance
The iPhone 17e surprises in terms of performance | Image by PhoneArena
Both devices arrive with roughly the same Apple A19 chip, built on a 3 nm node.
We expect this kind of chip on an $800 phone, but having the same kind of power on the $600 iPhone 17e is very impressive. The 17e is without a doubt the most powerful phone at its price.
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 17e | Apple iPhone 17 |
| System chip | |
|---|---|
| Apple A19 (3 nm) | Apple A19 (3 nm) |
| Memory | |
| 8GB (LPDDR5)/256GB 8GB/512GB | 8GB (LPDDR5)/256GB 8GB/512GB |
| OS | |
| iOS (26.x) | iOS (26.x) |
See the full
Apple iPhone 17e vs Apple iPhone 17 specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
The iPhone 17e also comes with the improved Apple C1X modem, as well as the N1 chip for enhanced Wi-Fi/Bluetooth stability and Thread support. Interestingly, the iPhone 17 skipped Apple's own line of in-house modems and relies on the Snapdragon X80 5G modem.
Both phones also share the same amount of RAM, 8 GB, and come in 256 GB and 512 GB storage versions. And this is probably the most impressive thing about the 17e — a phone with that kind of performance and storage at just $600 is a great deal.
Surprisingly, the iPhone 17e edges past the iPhone 17 in the CPU-tasking Geekbench test. The difference isn't enough to notice in real-life scenarios but definitely exists for bragging rights.
In the 3DMark stress test, however, the iPhone 17 regains the lead from the new affordable iPhone by a long shot.
iOS 26 will be the software of choice on both phones, and either one will be supported for many years to come. The most significant change that came with that was the Liquid Design overhaul. Hate it or love it, it's here to stay.
Camera
A great dual camera meets a good single one
You definitely feel the lack of a ultrawide camera | Image by PhoneArena
The iPhone 17e comes with a single 48 MP camera at the back with a 2X optical-grade zoom level, and I'm convinced it would be more than enough to cover 95% of your needs. You won't be able to take an ultrawide shot or zoom too far, but otherwise, you'd be able to take excellent regular photos, which is what most people actually do.
The iPhone 17, on the other hand, has the same main camera but adds a 48 MP ultrawide in the rear as well, thus expanding the versatility.
One major difference is the Camera Control button, which the iPhone 17 has but the iPhone 17e lacks.
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 17e | Apple iPhone 17 |
| Main camera | |
|---|---|
| 48 MP (Sapphire crystal lens cover, OIS, Autofocus) Aperture size: F1.6 Focal length: 26 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
48 MP (Sensor-shift OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.6 Focal length: 26 mm Sensor size: 1/1.56" Pixel size: 1.0 μm |
| Second camera | |
| 48 MP (Ultra-wide, PDAF) Aperture size: F2.2 Focal Length: 13 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
|
| Front | |
| 12 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR, Slow-motion videos, Autofocus) | 18 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR) |
See the full
Apple iPhone 17e vs Apple iPhone 17 specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
And due to the better versatility, the iPhone 17 achieves a much higher score in the PhoneArena camera test. Yet, for regular daily usage, you wouldn't catch the iPhone 17e lacking.
PhoneArena Camera Score:
The iPhone 17 also comes with the new 18MP square Center Stage selfie camera, which lets you take a photo in either portrait or landscape no matter how you hold your phone, a real game-changer for selfies and video calls.
Main camera
Zoom quality
Front camera
Battery Life and Charging
Who's coming out on top? The newcomer
USB-C is now the standard on iPhone | Image by PhoneArena
The iPhone 17e likely features the same 4,005 mAh battery as the iPhone 16e, and that's pretty impressive considering the same-sized iPhone 17 comes with a smaller battery. Paired with the A19 and the C1X chips, the efficiency of the device will likely help it achieve excellent battery life.
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 17e | Apple iPhone 17 |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| 4005 mAh | 3692 mAh |
| Charge speed | |
| Wired: 20.0W Wireless: 15.0W |
Wired: 40.0W Wireless: 25.0W |
See the full
Apple iPhone 17e vs Apple iPhone 17 specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
In the PhoneArena battery life tests, the iPhone 17e beats the iPhone 17 thanks to the larger battery. Neither phone will last you two days, but the iPhone 17e will last you slightly longer in most daily scenarios.
PhoneArena Battery and Charging Test Results:
Charging-wise, the iPhone 17 can be topped up at up to 40 W with a compatible charger, while the iPhone 17e maxes out at 20 W.
The iPhone 17e is also scoring MagSafe, albeit the first 15W generation. This lets you attach magnetic accessories to the back of your iPhone. The iPhone 17 also has MagSafe, though version 2.0, which bumps the charging speeds to 25 W.
Specs Comparison
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 17e | Apple iPhone 17 |
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm | 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm (~9.3 mm with camera bump) |
| Weight | |
| 169.0 g | 177.0 g |
| Size | |
|---|---|
| 6.1-inch | 6.3-inch |
| Type | |
| OLED, 60Hz | OLED, 120Hz |
| System chip | |
|---|---|
| Apple A19 (3 nm) | Apple A19 (3 nm) |
| Memory | |
| 8GB (LPDDR5)/256GB 8GB/512GB | 8GB (LPDDR5)/256GB 8GB/512GB |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| 4005 mAh | 3692 mAh |
| Charge speed | |
| Wired: 20.0W Wireless: 15.0W |
Wired: 40.0W Wireless: 25.0W |
| Main camera | |
|---|---|
| 48 MP (Sapphire crystal lens cover, OIS, Autofocus) Aperture size: F1.6 Focal length: 26 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
48 MP (Sensor-shift OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.6 Focal length: 26 mm Sensor size: 1/1.56" Pixel size: 1.0 μm |
| Second camera | |
| 48 MP (Ultra-wide, PDAF) Aperture size: F2.2 Focal Length: 13 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
|
| Front | |
| 12 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR, Slow-motion videos, Autofocus) | 18 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR) |
See the full
Apple iPhone 17e vs Apple iPhone 17 specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
Summary
With the iPhone 17e, Apple is reinvigorating its new affordable lineup, and it shapes up to be a great addition that fixes most of our criticisms about the predecessor iPhone 16e.
At the same unchanged price tag of $600, this one will likely sell like hotcakes, especially in emerging markets where it will be the most affordable up-to-date entry point to the Apple ecosystem.
The iPhone 17, on the other hand, is $200 pricier and that buys you a 120Hz ProMotion display that also gets brighter, faster charging, a secondary ultra-wide camera and a slightly better selfie camera.
Which one should you get? With the iPhone 17e improving in so many ways, most people should probably save some money and get it instead of the iPhone 17.
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