- Overnight, Apple has announced the release of the iPhone 17e, which brings with it most of the best of the iPhone’s functionality at a much more affordable price.
- It’s powered by Apple’s latest A19 chip, features a 48MP 2-in-1 camera system, MagSafe charging, and Ceramic Shield 2 to keep it protected.
- The Apple iPhone 17e is priced at $999, with pre-orders opening from March 5 and in-store availability from March 11.
Apple’s just dropped the iPhone 17e, and it’s basically the iPhone that says “I want to have the good stuff, but the Reserve Bank doesn’t want me to”. It’s the most affordable member of the iPhone 17 family by $400, but it’s got enough genuinely useful upgrades that it doesn’t feel like a compromise.
While there’s plenty to get excited about, the headline is the 256GB that arrives as the starting storage, which is a very welcome upgrade for anyone who’s been living in constant iCloud guilt. It also gets Apple’s latest A19 chip, a 48MP 2-in-1 camera system, and the return of something people actually love using: MagSafe (with faster wireless charging support).
Durability gets a bump too, with Ceramic Shield 2 up front in an upgrade you don’t celebrate until your phone kisses concrete and somehow survives. Plus, if you’re not one to run a case on your phone and you care about colour, it lands in black, white, and soft pink.
The way to read the 17e is simple: it’s not trying to be the flashiest iPhone in the room, but it’s trying to be the smartest buy. The one you recommend to your mate who wants speed, storage, a proper camera, and modern charging, all without paying “pro” money.
As far as pricing, it’ll ring up the till to the tune of $999. For some context, the iPhone 17 starts at $1,399, the iPhone Air at $1,799, the iPhone 17 Pro at $1,999, and the Pro Max at $2,199. Honestly, it’s a bit of a bargain, and if you’re keen, pre-orders open March 5, with in-store availability from March 11.
