How the new iPhone 17E competes with Apple’s expensive phones

The iPhone 17 lineup now has a “budget” option. Announced this weekThe iPhone 17E will be available in stores on Wednesday, March 11, starting at $599, with pre-orders opening on March 4. The 6.1-inch phone joins the rest of Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup, which includes the iPhone 17 ($799), the more powerful iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099), and the iPhone 17 Pro Max ($1,199), as well as the ultra-slim phone. iPhone Air ($999).

Unlike last year iPhone 16eThe 17E features MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging, along with the faster A19 chip found in the iPhone 17 and twice the primary storage space (256GB vs. 128GB). It also features a sharper, more durable display, retains Apple Intelligence support, and includes a 48-megapixel “fusion” camera that enables 2x close-up shots, all of which brings it closer to Apple’s more premium phones.

But at $599, the 17E doesn’t have all the bells and whistles found in the rest of Apple’s current iPhone lineup. For example, it only has a 6.1-inch, 60Hz refresh rate display — the smallest screen of any iPhone 17 series — and lacks features like an always-on display and Dynamic Island, a disc-shaped cutout that displays information, like ride-sharing updates, at a glance. It’s also noticeably dim, with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits.

The camera hardware is another highlight. While the standard 17E, Air, and iPhone 17 all share a 48-megapixel main sensor, the iPhone 17 has a dedicated ultra-wide camera, which also enables macro photography for close-up shots. The 17 and Air also offer an 18-megapixel front-facing camera — the 17E only has a 12-megapixel camera — which can translate to sharper selfies and sharper video calls. The Pro and Pro Max models expand further with more advanced camera arrays, including the addition of dedicated telephoto cameras. In addition, all devices except the 17E include a camera control button, which is designed to help people quickly operate the camera and adjust various settings.

Unsurprisingly, charging speeds and battery life also vary. The 17E supports MagSafe charging with Qi2 support, allowing for up to 15W wireless charging, while the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and both Pro models support faster 25W wireless charging. Apple says the 17E can charge up to 50 percent in 30 minutes, compared to about 20 minutes for high-end models. Battery life increases as you move up the lineup, with the 17E rated for up to 26 hours of video playback, while the larger iPhone Air and Pro Max models last longer (up to 39 hours, in some cases).

These are just some of the main points, though. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, we’ve put all the specs together below, letting you see how each phone stacks up against the others.