Review verdict: Apple iPhone 17e remains highly coveted despite cutbacks
The Apple iPhone 17e is a great fit for those who want to stay within Apple’s ecosystem and can live with minor compromises in terms of features, most of which aren’t really apparent in everyday use. Nonetheless, the device doesn’t fare particularly well against its competitors. Not only do many current Android phones offer substantially better value, the iPhone 17e also pales in comparison with the slightly more expensive iPhone 17.
Apple A19 delivers top-tier performance
One of the iPhone 17e’s strengths is undoubtedly its high-performance A19 chip. Despite having one fewer GPU core than the iPhone 17’s SoC, this chip hardly breaks a sweat when handling demanding tasks. The 48 MP camera likewise produces great photos and videos, and the internal battery provides reliable stamina under typical usage.
Other highlights include the compact, premium build, the bright and color-accurate OLED display, and Apple’s long software support. On top of that, Apple has increased the base model’s storage to 256 GB – doubled that of the iPhone 16e.
Apple stuck to 60 Hz refresh rate even in 2026
On the downside, the iPhone 17e has been subject to several minor and not-so-minor cost-cutting measures. For instance, the display still runs at 60 Hz, which feels outdated in 2026. Also slightly long in the tooth are the large notch and the thick bezel around the display, recycled from the iPhone 14 era. What’s more, the iPhone 17e lacks an ultrawide camera, a UWB chip, and Wi-Fi 7 support, leaving it far behind the iPhone 17 in capabilities.
Read our in-depth review to learn more about the iPhone 17e.
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