Apple has unveiled the iPhone 17e, refreshing its entry-level lineup with faster performance and long-awaited MagSafe support. The new model replaces last year’s iPhone 16e and keeps the same familiar design while upgrading key internal components.
The iPhone 17e features a 6.1-inch OLED display and retains the notch for Face ID instead of switching to the Dynamic Island. It also keeps flat sides, an Action Button, and a single rear camera without a raised bump. However, the biggest changes happen inside the device.
A19 Chip Brings More Power
Apple upgrades the processor from the A18 to the A19, the same chip found in the base iPhone 17. As noted on page 2, the A19 includes two performance cores and four efficiency cores. The GPU has four cores, one fewer than the standard iPhone 17, yet it adds Neural Accelerators to boost machine learning tasks.
The phone also uses Apple’s newer wireless technology, including the C1X cellular modem. While it does not support mmWave, most users in this price range may not notice the difference. Satellite features such as Emergency SOS and Find My remain available.
MagSafe Finally Returns
One of the most notable additions is MagSafe. The iPhone 16e supported Qi charging but lacked Apple’s magnetic system. Now, the iPhone 17e supports MagSafe accessories and charges at up to 15W, doubling the previous 7.5W wireless speed.
This change makes the device more compatible with Apple’s ecosystem of cases and chargers.
Familiar Camera, Solid Battery Life
The 48MP Fusion Camera returns with a built-in 12MP 2x telephoto option. It supports features like Night Mode, Deep Fusion, and 4K Dolby Vision video at 60 frames per second. The front 12MP TrueDepth camera handles Portrait Lighting, Animoji, and stabilized video.
Battery life remains strong. Apple claims up to 26 hours of video playback and 90 hours of audio playback.
The iPhone 17e comes in black, white, and a new soft pink. Pre-orders begin March 4, 2026, with shipping on March 11. Pricing starts at $599 for 256GB and $799 for 512GB.
