Apple iPhone 17e review – GSMArena.com tests | Infinium-tech

Introduction and Specifications

If the last two budget iPhone releases are anything to go by, Apple is probably turning this into a regular thing. Just over a year after the iPhone 16e was released, we now have a new budget iPhone – the 17e. And it’s not just a refresh – we’ve got some upgrades to talk about.

This marks an interesting change in strategy. The iPhone SE handsets (spiritual predecessors to the iPhone 16e and 17e) were spaced a few years apart. This makes the iPhone 17e the first annual entry-level iPhone upgrade.

It cannot be denied that the iPhone 16e was successful, especially in the US, where there are very few mid-range users. But even in more competitive markets like India and Japan, the iPhone 16e was well received by users. Apple now looks to build on that momentum with a refreshed and more capable iPhone 17e.

The new iPhone 17e is equipped with the latest Apple A19 chipset, which is running inside the current iPhone 17 generation. However, graphics performance is slightly reduced due to the GPU having 4 cores instead of 5.

Apple iPhone 17e specifications at a glance:

• Body: 146.7×71.5×7.8mm, 169g; Glass front (Ceramic Shield 2), glass back, aluminum frame; IP68 dust-proof and water-resistant (submersible up to 6 meters for 30 minutes), Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, ADEX certified).
• Display: 6.10″ Super Retina
• Chipset: Apple A19 (3 ​​nm): Hexa-core (2×4.26 GHz + 4×2.60 GHz); Apple GPU (4-core graphics).
• Memory: 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM; NVMe.
• OS/Software: iOS 26.3.
• rear camera: 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55″, 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS.
• Front Camera: wide (main): 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm, 1/3.6″, 1.0µm, PDAF; depth:SL 3D.
• video capture: rear camera: 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, Dolby Vision HDR, OIS, Stereo Sound Rec; front camera: 4K@25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, Dolby Vision HDR.
• Battery: 4005mAh; Wired, 50% in 30 minutes, 15W Wireless MagSafe/Qi2.
• Connectivity: 5G; é SIM; Wi-Fi 6; BT 5.3; NFC.
• various: Face ID, Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass, Barometer; stereo speakers; Emergency SOS, messaging, and Find My via satellite.

Additionally, Apple included its advanced C1X modem, promising better connectivity and power efficiency. We’re curious to see if this translates into measurable gains in our call tests.

Without any price hike for the base model, the iPhone 17e is now offered with double the storage – 256GB, which is twice as much as the previous generation.

While wired charging has not changed (50% in 30 minutes), wireless charging has been upgraded. The new 17e now supports MagSafe, in line with the rest of the iPhone 17 family. As a result, the maximum wireless charging power is double that of last year’s model at 15W.

Another change this year is the upgraded Ceramic Shield 2 glass on the front, complete with anti-reflective coating.

And with that, the hardware upgrade is complete. We have the same 4,005 mAh battery on board, the same precise design and chassis, and the same 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate.

However, Apple did promise some camera quality improvements thanks to new ISPs and image processing algorithms. We are going to see.

Unboxing the iPhone 17e

Like the rest of the iPhones, the iPhone 17e comes in a modest packaging that only contains a quick start guide and a USB-C to USB-C cable used for charging and data transfer.

A compatible Power Delivery charger must be obtained separately. The phone should support a maximum of 25W, so any higher-rated charger should work.