Apple Lowers Bar with iPhone 17E

The latest addition to Apple’s 17 series is the iPhone 17E, a budget-friendly option that still packs some premium features without breaking the bank. Starting at $599, the 6.1-inch phone joins the rest of Apple’s lineup, which includes more expensive models like the iPhone 17 Pro Max at $1,199. The 17E features MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging, as well as a faster A19 chip found in other iPhones in the series. It also has twice the base storage (256GB vs 128GB) compared to its predecessor, last year’s iPhone 16E. Additionally, it boasts a sharper display and includes a 48-megapixel “fusion” camera that enables 2x telephoto shots. However, the 17E doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles of the pricier models. For example, it only has a 60Hz display, lacks features like an always-on display and Dynamic Island, and has a dimmer peak brightness of 1,200 nits compared to the higher-end models’ 3,000 nits. The camera hardware is another key differentiator. While the 17E shares the same main sensor as the standard iPhone 17, Air, and Pro Max models, it lacks features like dedicated ultrawide cameras or macro photography capabilities. The 17E also has a lower-resolution front-facing camera compared to other models in the lineup. Charging speeds and battery life vary across the different models, with the 17E supporting MagSafe charging at up to 15W and offering around 26 hours of video playback time.