The iPhone 17E’s biggest competitor isn’t budget Android phones — it’s older iPhones

The $599 iPhone 17E is a great new entry level phone iOS device For someone who wants budget friendly phone With many premium features like leading Apple phones. In it iPhone 17E reviewMy colleague Abrar Al-Hiti praised the phone’s feel, higher base storage space of 256GB, and the inclusion of MagSafe. But even with these perks, I can’t help but notice that there are many other iPhone options that might be better suited to someone shopping in this price range.

iPhone 17E was launched alongside MacBook Neo, priced at $599 It provides an interesting comparison of how Apple presents value options in these categories. The MacBook Neo is an excellent laptop for its price, but its competitors aren’t necessarily so Cheap Windows Laptops or Chromebooks. New ones replace old ones MacBook Air laptops That was it Sell ​​at a discountwhich is now Apple’s most affordable laptop.

But while the Neo is a compelling option for buying a brand-new laptop over an older one, I don’t necessarily feel the same way about the iPhone 17E. There are a number of reasons that still need to be considered Older iPhone Instead of the brand new iPhone 17E.

You can still get new iPhones for less than 17E

iPhone 15 from Apple and iPhone 16 It has many of the same features as the iPhone 17E, but in many ways, it’s better options. Both phones have a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera similar to the single rear camera found on the 17E. But the older flagships also have a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, which the iPhone 17E lacks, allowing for photos and videos of wider scenes at 0.5x zoom. And you can still buy both brand new for around 17E. At the time of writing this report, it was The price of the iPhone 15 is $530 and The price of the iPhone 16 is $630 At Best Buy when activated on AT&T or Verizon.

You can also purchase both devices from Apple using its Certified Refurbished Store. While this technically means that the hardware has been used, it also means that Apple itself has replaced any necessary parts and is essentially selling the device as new, with a warranty and the option to add on. Apple care. Apple’s 128GB iPhone 15 is priced at $529or if you want to match the iPhone 17E’s 256GB storage capacity, this The model is $619. While that’s $20 more than the price of the iPhone 17E, the more versatile dual rear camera system is an easy reason to choose the iPhone 15, not to mention video features like Cinema Mode and Action Mode, which aren’t available on the 17E.

You lose Access Apple intelligence By choosing the iPhone 15, but for now, you’re not missing out on much, since features like Improved Siri Still in business. Another option is A Refurbished iPhone 16 for $619 Which supports Apple intelligence and has programmability Action buttonbut it comes with a storage capacity of only 128 GB. Costs escalate to 256GB256GB goes for $699That’s not bad, but you’re now looking at a $100 increase from the iPhone 17E’s $599 price to get that ultra-wide camera.

While these options allow you to buy a new or essentially new device, if you’re OK with buying a used phone from a third-party seller, you can get an iPhone 15 Pro with a little work.

Comparison of new and refurbished iPhones

phone	price	storage	Retailer	condition
iPhone 15	$529	128 GB	apple	renovated
iPhone 15*	$530	128 GB	Best buy	new
iPhone 17e	$599	256 GB	apple	new
iPhone 15	$619	256 GB	apple	renovated
iPhone 16	$619	128 GB	apple	renovated
iPhone 16*	$630	128 GB	Best buy	new
iPhone 16	$699	256 GB	apple	renovated
iPhone 16*	$730	256 GB	Best buy	new
iPhone 15	$789	512 GB	apple	renovated
iPhone 17e	$799	512 GB	apple	new
iPhone 16	$869	512 GB	apple	renovated
*With cellular service

Use can get you an iPhone 15 Pro — but pay attention to the trade-offs

I closely follow the used phone market and recently tried out a used phone iPhone 13 mini Let’s see how it holds up four years after its release. I often see used 2023’s iPhone 15 Pros Attractively priced in “renewed” condition on sites like Amazon, Gazelle, and BackMarket.

Feature-wise, the iPhone 15 Pro outperforms the iPhone 17E in every way except processing power. You get three cameras, including a 3x telephoto lens, along with an A17 Pro processor that can tap into Apple’s smarts.

As of this writing, on Amazon, for example, 512 GB iPhone 15 Pro It sells for between $557 to $600, depending on color. This is the price of an iPhone that has at least 80% of its original battery capacity (Apple recommends replacing your iPhone battery When its maximum capacity drops to 80% or less). the A distinctive renewed editionIt comes with a 90% maximum capacity battery and is priced around $620. In either case, there may be visible wear and tear on the phones, but nothing that should affect your ability to use the phone.

But note my focus on battery life: The refurbished iPhone 13 Mini had a battery capacity of 83%, and was extremely frustrating to use. Although I have Credit card feature for phone insurance That would cover the cost of replacing the battery (without insurance, the cost is $69 for the 13 Mini, and $99 for iPhone 15 and 16), this is only available in official Apple retail stores and they only replace it when the battery capacity is less than 80%. If you’re comfortable disassembling your phone, there are also kits for that Replace the phone battery yourselfbut this is very much a “at your own risk” kind of thing. Third party repair places are also an option to replace the battery but will void the warranty (if anything remains on the phone).

Many used phones come with a warranty but may have a limited return period. Even if it’s short, this recovery period can be great because it gives you time to live with actual battery life day to day. When I bought a used iPhone 13 Mini, it came with a 90-day return period, and I found out within 15 days that I was having issues with that phone’s battery. Otherwise, you might consider adding an extra $99 to pay Apple to replace the battery, which might still be a bargain in terms of the overall price.

You have plenty of options if you want an iPhone for under $600

The iPhone 17E is a good choice for a new phone. It has the latest processor, adequate convenience features like MagSafe, and plenty of local storage for photos and videos. But it’s important to know your options if you’re shopping in this price range for iOS devices, which — now that the iPhone SE line has been discontinued — are few and far between these days.

You can save money by buying the iPhone 15, especially if you’re upgrading from an older iPhone. Or if you’re comfortable with the use, you can get the iPhone 15 Pro, as long as you pay attention to potential issues like low battery capacity.

I’ve listed all the options and their specifications next to each other in the following chart for further comparison. That way, you can decide whether you’d rather get a new iPhone 17E or an older iPhone with potentially more features for around the same price.

Apple iPhone 17E vs. Apple iPhone 16, Apple iPhone 15, and Apple iPhone 15 Pro

	Apple iPhone 17E	Apple iPhone 16	Apple iPhone 15	Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Display size, resolution	6.1-inch OLED screen; 2,532 x 1,170 pixels; 60 Hz refresh rate	6.1 inch OLED; 2,556 x 1,179 pixels; 60 Hz refresh rate	6.1 inch OLED; 2,556 x 1,179 pixels; 60 Hz refresh rate	6.1 inch OLED; 2,556 x 1,179 pixels; 120Hz adaptive
Pixel density	460 dpi	460 dpi	460 dpi	460 dpi
Dimensions (inches)	5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches	5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches	5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches	5.77 x 2.78 x 0.32 inches
Dimensions(mm)	146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm	147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm	147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm	146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25 mm
Weight (oz, grams)	167 grams (5.88 ounces)	170 grams (6 ounces)	171 grams (6.02 ounces)	187 grams (6.6 ounces)
Mobile software	iOS 26	iOS 26	iOS 26	iOS 26
camera	48 MP (wide)	48 MP (wide), 12 MP (ultra-wide)	48 MP (wide), 12 MP (ultra-wide)	48 MP (wide), 12 MP (ultra-wide), 12 MP (3x zoom)
Front camera	12 megapixel	12 megapixel	12 megapixel	12 megapixel
Capture video	4K	4K	4K	4K
Processor	Apple A19	Apple A18	A16 Bionic	A17 Pro
RAM/Storage	RAM Unknown + 256GB, 512GB	RAM not available + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB	RAM not available + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB	RAM not available + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Expandable storage	no one	no one	no one	no one
Battery/charger	4,005 mAh. 20W wired charging. Up to 15W MagSafe wireless charging; Qi2 up to 15W	Not disclosed. Up to 22 hours of video playback; Up to 18 hours of video playback (streaming). 20W wired charging. Up to 25W MagSafe wireless charging with 30W or higher adapter; Qi2 up to 15W	Not disclosed. Apple claims up to 20 hours of video playback (16 hours streaming). 20W wired charging. Up to 15W MagSafe wireless charging; Qi2 up to 15W	Not disclosed. Apple claims up to 23 hours of video playback (20 hours streaming). 20W wired charging. Up to 15W MagSafe wireless charging; Qi2 up to 15W
Fingerprint sensor	None (Face ID)	None (Face ID)	None (Face ID)	None (Face ID)
conductor	USB-C (USB 2.0)	USB-C (USB 2.0)	USB-C (USB 2.0)	USB-C (USB 3.0)
Headphone jack	no one	no one	no one	no one
Special features	Apple Intelligence, MagSafe, Qi2 charging (up to 15W), Action button, Apple C1 5G modem, Ceramic Shield, Emergency SOS, Satellite calling, IP68 resistant	Apple Intelligence, MagSafe, Action Button, Camera Control Button, Dynamic Island, Screen Brightness Range 1-2000 Nits, IP68 Resistant. Colors: black, white, pink, teal, ultramarine.	dynamic island; 5G(mm/Sub6); magsafe; Water resistant (IP68); Wireless charging SIM card; Satellite communication	Apple Intelligence, 5G (mmw/Sub6), Action Button, Always-On Display, IP68 Rating, MagSafe, Dynamic Island, 5x Optical Zoom (120mm Equivalent), Satellite Connectivity, eSIM, Thread Mesh Technology