Apple Launches iPhone 17e, the Cheapest iPhone Made Yet
Apple Inc. has introduced the iPhone 17e, a lower-priced addition to its iPhone 17 lineup aimed at expanding access to its latest hardware and artificial intelligence features. Announced on March 2, the iPhone 17e will be available for preorder starting March 4 at 6:15 AM. Pacific Time. The device will officially go on sale one week later, on March 11.
The iPhone 17e starts at $599 and comes with 256GB of storage as the base configuration. That marks a notable shift in Apple’s pricing strategy for its entry model, as it doubles the starting storage of the previous generation at the same price point. By increasing storage without raising the cost, Apple appears to be targeting users who want more capacity for photos, 4K video, apps, and games without stepping up to a higher-tier device.
At the core of the iPhone 17e is Apple’s latest A19 chip, built on 3-nanometer technology. The processor is the same generation as the one used in the standard iPhone 17, positioning the 17e as a performance-focused device despite its lower price. The company says the A19 delivers strong performance for everyday tasks and supports Apple Intelligence, its growing suite of AI-driven features integrated into iOS 26.
The phone also includes Apple’s new C1X cellular modem, which the company says is up to twice as fast as the C1 modem used in the iPhone 16e. Apple adds that the new modem uses less energy, contributing to improved battery efficiency. The company claims the device offers all-day battery life and can charge up to 50 percent in about 30 minutes using a 20W or higher USB-C power adapter.
The iPhone 17e has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display protected by Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple says improves scratch resistance and reduces glare. It has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and supports MagSafe for magnetic accessories and faster wireless charging up to 15W.
On the back, it features a single 48MP Fusion camera. Apple says it supports an optical-quality 2x zoom and can record 4K Dolby Vision video at up to 60 frames per second. It also includes features like Spatial Audio recording and wind noise reduction, offering high-resolution photos and video without the dual-camera system found on the standard iPhone 17.
The iPhone 17e omits some premium features found in the higher-priced iPhone 17, including the Dynamic Island interface and an additional rear camera. It also features a slightly smaller display and one fewer GPU core compared to its more expensive sibling. These tradeoffs help Apple maintain the $599 price while keeping the device aligned with the broader iPhone 17 family.
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