Apple unveiled the iPhone 17e last night, expanding its iPhone 17 series. Just like its predecessor, the iPhone 17e is positioned as the most affordable variant in the line-up. The new model brings a few key upgrades across the chipset, camera quality and display, targeting customers who want the classic iPhone experience at a lower price with better longevity. The all new iPhone 17e packs the latest A19 chip, a 48-megapixel camera and MagSafe support.
In India, the iPhone 17e starts at Rs 64,900 for the 256GB variant, while the 512GB model is priced at Rs 84,900. The iPhone 17e is now available for pre-order, with sales beginning on 11 March. The device has been launched in three colour options: black, white and soft pink, all with a matte finish. In comparison, the iPhone 17 starts at Rs 82,900 and comes in a wider range of colours and storage options.
Let’s take a quick look at what the iPhone 17e offers and how it’s different from the standard iPhone 17.
iPhone 17e: Display, performance and design
The iPhone 17e features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate and a notch design. While it skips the 120Hz ProMotion panel and Dynamic Island seen on the iPhone 17, Apple is positioning it as a balanced choice for everyday users.
Under the hood, the phone runs on Apple’s latest A19 chip built on a 3nm process. However, the 17e version comes with a 4-core GPU, compared to the 5-core GPU on the iPhone 17. In practical terms, this means both phones deliver similar overall performance, but the standard model may have a slight edge in high-end gaming and graphics-heavy tasks. The iPhone 17e comes with 8GB RAM, while the iPhone 17 offers 12GB RAM.
Apple has also introduced its new C1X 5G modem on the iPhone 17e. For connectivity, the iPhone 17e includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. The iPhone 17, on the other hand, supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and mmWave 5G in select markets, giving it faster theoretical speeds.
Design-wise, both phones feature an aluminium frame and glass back with IP68 water and dust resistance. The iPhone 17e retains a notch, whereas the iPhone 17 gets the more modern Dynamic Island interface.
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: Camera capabilities
On the rear, the iPhone 17e sports a single 48-megapixel Fusion camera with an f/1.6 aperture and optical image stabilisation. It supports 2x telephoto crop, Night Mode and 4K Dolby Vision video recording at up to 60fps.
Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 17 steps up with a dual 48 megapixel setup, combining a main sensor and an ultra-wide lens. This gives users more flexibility, especially for landscape shots and group photos.
On the front, the iPhone 17e has a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera, while the iPhone 17 features an upgraded 18-megapixel front camera with Center Stage support.
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: Battery and charging
Apple claims up to 26 hours of video playback on the iPhone 17e. The iPhone 17 pushes that further to up to 30 hours. Charging speeds also differ. The 17e supports 20W wired and 15W MagSafe charging, while the iPhone 17 supports faster 40W wired and 25W MagSafe charging.
All in all the biggest differences between the affordable iPhone 17e and standard iPhone 17 comes down to display quality, camera flexibility, RAM, connectivity and charging speeds. The iPhone 17 offers a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, more RAM, a dual-camera system and faster wireless standards. The 17e, meanwhile, focuses on delivering core flagship performance at a lower price.
