Apple Announces New iPhone 17e for $599

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Apple has officially introduced the iPhone 17e, the latest addition to its more affordable “e” lineup. Starting at $599, the new model builds on last year’s 16e with upgraded performance, more storage and long-requested features like MagSafe. Preorders will be available March 4, with availability beginning March 11.

Specs and Features

The iPhone 17e is powered by Apple’s new A19 chip, bringing faster performance and improved power efficiency compared to the prior generation. That should translate into smoother multitasking, stronger gaming performance and better long-term software support. Apple has also doubled the base storage to 256GB, a notable bump from the 128GB starting point on the 16e, without increasing the starting price.

The phone features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display protected by an updated Ceramic Shield material for improved durability. On the back, there’s a 48-megapixel main camera capable of high-resolution photos and 2× optical-quality zoom via sensor cropping. While it remains a single-lens system, Apple continues to lean on computational photography for portraits and low-light improvements.

For the first time on an “e” model, the iPhone 17e adds MagSafe support, enabling magnetic accessories and faster wireless charging. It also supports the latest version of iOS, along with Apple’s newer AI-powered features and safety tools like Crash Detection and satellite-based emergency messaging where available.

How It Compares to iPhone 16e and iPhone 17

Compared to the iPhone 16e, the 17e delivers three major upgrades: a newer A19 chip, double the base storage and the addition of MagSafe. The overall design and screen size remain similar, but performance and long-term usability should see a noticeable improvement.

When stacked against the standard iPhone 17, the 17e still sits clearly below the flagship tier. The iPhone 17 offers a more advanced camera system with multiple lenses, potential display upgrades like higher refresh rates and additional premium features. Buyers who prioritize photography versatility or cutting-edge display tech may still find the $200 jump worthwhile.

What Slickdeals Users Should Consider Before Ordering

Right off the bat, this is a good deal just from the storage perspective alone compared to the 16e. And being able to use existing chargers is always nice. MagSafe chargers is definitely better in the long run, especially with kids. I’ve had to replace a lot of USB-C and lightning cable chargers over the years, but never a MagSafe one.

As for deals on the phone, it’s going to come down to who will have the best trade-in bonuses. Apple rarely discounts new models directly, but launch timing often brings incentives through wireless carriers and retailers. So far we’ve seen Apple say carriers will offer up to $400 in trade-in credit for an iPhone 11 and up to $599 for an iPhone 13. Apple will only offer $100 and $195 respectively for the same trade-ins.

Since this will be a new size as well, expect plenty of deals in coming weeks for cases and screen protectors. I highly recommend setting up a deal alert for “iphone 17e” so you don’t miss upcoming offers.