Apple iPhone 17e

All of this doesn’t matter a great deal, though, because Apple has taken care of the most important factor with the iPhone 17e: price. At £200 less than the iPhone 17, it almost doesn’t matter that the battery life isn’t brilliant, the display is limited to 60Hz and that there is only one camera. People are going to buy this phone anyway because it is an iPhone – and there is nothing egregiously wrong with it.

The iPhone 17e keeps it simple to keep the price down, and that’s a viable formula for a good phone many people will be content with.

It’s not the most exciting iPhone around, and the iPhone 17 is so much better if your budget can stretch. Saying that, the iPhone 17e is better than the 16e thanks to a more capable chip, double the starting storage and MagSafe.

The Apple iPhone 17e is a strong entry-level iPhone, delivering great performance, a solid battery life, a capable rear camera, and the full iOS 26 experience in a compact, premium design. MagSafe is a welcome addition over the iPhone 16e, and while there remain some compromises, such as a 60Hz display, single rear camera, slower charging, and no Camera Control button, they won’t be deal breakers for many.

Apple has built an excellent midrange phone that captures the essence of the iPhone experience, without many of the compromises you’d expect, and with some welcome upgrades over last year's model.

The iPhone 17e is a solid entry-level handset for those who need a basic, no-frills path into the Apple ecosystem.

The iPhone 17e is still a little overpriced compared to the competition, but I think it's a perfectly fine choice for anyone who wants to buy a basic iPhone without going through the used market.

The iPhone 17E offers some significant upgrades over the 16E, but most people should just get the iPhone 17 for an extra $200.