Apple iPhone 17e review: MagSafe makes a difference

One of the new features in the iPhone 16e, powered by the A19 chip, is the ability to turn image blur on or off for photos after you take them. So, if you want to take a photo in portrait mode, you can enable it after the fact. Speaking of which, Apple’s selfies look more realistic and natural than the Google Pixel 10a’s results, although the Pixel triumphs in low-light scenes.

Low light is generally one area where this iPhone struggles compared to its peers. Not necessarily in intensity, but when there is any movement. I tried to take a photo of my brother’s cat indoors, the night mode kept working, and I ended up with a long exposure photo of a blurry shot. The Pixel 10a understands better when there’s movement and doesn’t work in Night mode as often, so my cat photos were crystal clear.

Overall, whether day or night, the iPhone 17e sometimes delivers sharper images than the Pixel 10a, but the color temperature tends to be warmer. The Pixel 10a can sometimes match image quality, even though there’s no contrast, or the color temperature is too cold. However, I found the Pixel to be generally more reliable in low light, and selfies were sharper and better exposed. Video performance was better for the iPhone – I shot a full video on the iPhone 17e, and while the quality wasn’t as sharp or smooth as what I could get from the iPhone 17 Pro, it was more than adequate.

Don’t get me wrong, you can take some beautiful photos with the iPhone 17e. You’ll reach its limits more often than you would on the iPhone 17, which has a larger sensor for the primary camera.

The iPhone 17e is still a bit pricey compared to competitors, but I think it’s a perfectly good option for anyone who wants to buy a basic iPhone without going through the used market.