Apple officially launched the iPhone 17e today, the most affordable entry in the iPhone 17 family.
One of the most notable changes this generation is storage. The base model now starts with 256GB — double the capacity of the iPhone 16e — at the same starting price, and the 512GB variant is actually cheaper than its equivalent from the previous generation. For most users, this effectively means more value without paying more.
What’s more impressive is with the support of Apple Intelligence, we can anticipate that its RAM is upgraded to 8GB too. Users can expect smoother day-to-day usage swapping between apps.
At the heart of the iPhone 17e is the A19 chip, built on 3-nanometer technology, with a 6-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine optimised for Apple Intelligence features. It is worth noting that the A19 in the iPhone 17e uses a 4-core GPU rather than the 5-core GPU found in the standard iPhone 17 — a practice known as chip binning, where chips with a slightly defective core are repurposed for the more affordable model. In real-world usage, most users are unlikely to notice the difference.
Connectivity sees a meaningful upgrade with the inclusion of Apple’s latest C1X modem, the same one found in the iPhone 17 Air, delivering up to twice the cellular speeds of the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e. The iPhone 17e also supports satellite connectivity for Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My when outside cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.
The camera system carries over the 48MP Fusion main sensor from the iPhone 16e, with an f/1.6 aperture, optical image stabilisation, and Hybrid Focus Pixels, enabling both 24MP and 48MP photos as well as an optical-quality 12MP 2x Telephoto through sensor cropping. Video recording supports 4K Dolby Vision at up to 60fps. The front-facing TrueDepth camera continues to handle Face ID and supports Portrait mode with Photographic Styles.
Perhaps the most welcomed addition this year is MagSafe. The iPhone 16e only supported 7.5W wireless charging, but the iPhone 17e now supports MagSafe at up to 25W, and also achieves up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes via wired charging. Battery life is rated at 26 hours of video playback.
On the display front, the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display remains unchanged in refresh rate at 60Hz, with brightness up to 1,200 nits peak HDR and a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. The Dynamic Island does not make an appearance — the traditional notch design is retained.
What does improve is durability: the new Ceramic Shield 2 front glass offers three times better scratch resistance than the previous generation, along with added anti-reflective properties.
The iPhone 17e runs iOS 26 out of the box and is eSIM-only in select markets. It is available in three colours: Black, White, and the new Soft Pink.
In Malaysia, pricing starts at RM2,999 for the 256GB model and RM3,599 for the 512GB variant. Pre-orders open on Wednesday, March 4, with the device going on sale from March 11.
For more info: Apple iPhone 17e
