iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: I compared the two models to decide which has the better value

Kerry Wan and Nina Raemont/ZDNET

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On March 4, Apple held its archetypal large motorboat lawsuit of 2026 successful New York, unveiling respective caller devices, from the MacBook Neo to the absorption of this piece: the iPhone 17e. This is the latest midrange iPhone from the tech giant, designed to beryllium a much affordable alternate to the basal iPhone 17.

Also: Everything Apple conscionable announced: The $599 MacBook Neo, M5 Pro, iPhone 17e, and more

The 2 smartphones person a batch successful common. Both tally connected Apple's A19 chip, commencement with 256GB of storage, and adjacent stock a akin signifier factor. They're besides beauteous hardy devices, with an IP68 absorption rating. But cardinal differences marque them fundamentally antithetic phones. One exemplary whitethorn beryllium a amended acceptable for you depending connected your idiosyncratic needs. Don't interest if you're having a hard clip deciding which exemplary you should buy; I'm present to help. Below, I've breached down wherever each iPhone shines truthful you tin walk your hard-earned wealth wisely.

Specs

You should bargain the iPhone 17e if...

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You privation the champion worth iPhone

At $599, the iPhone 17e undercuts the iPhone 17 by $200 portion inactive delivering the halfway iPhone experience. It has a high-quality OLED screen, Apple Intelligence features, and creaseless show courtesy of the A19 chip. For mundane tasks similar texting, societal media, and casual gaming, the 17e performs conscionable arsenic good arsenic its much costly sibling. 

Also: iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: I didn't expect 1 camera spec to marque specified a large difference

Plus, it comes with 256GB of storage, treble what the iPhone 16e had. In a way, you're getting, like, 90% of the iPhone 17 experience. If you don't attraction astir the other bells and whistles and conscionable privation a telephone that works, the iPhone 17e is the cleanable choice.

2. You don't person precocious demands for cameras

The iPhone 17e comes with a azygous 48MP Fusion camera, a diagnostic Apple describes arsenic having 2 cameras successful one. It tin activate a 2x Telephoto effect for high-quality up-close shots. With conscionable 1 lens to manage, taking good-looking photographs is beauteous easy. You won't request to oregon consciousness forced to larn different camera options. You tin sprout successful 48MP for maximum detail, oregon 24MP for tiny record sizes. 

The 17e besides supports Apple's latest HDR software, which renders affluent midtone colors and heavy shadows. While it lacks an ultra-wide and a long-zoom lens, the Fusion camera is much than capable for societal media, mundane snapshots, and acquainted photos.

You should bargain the iPhone 17 if...

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You privation a amended display

The iPhone 17 broke caller crushed erstwhile it launched, becoming the archetypal base-model iPhone to diagnostic a ProMotion display. This surface delivers an adaptive refresh complaint of up to 120Hz, making web scrolling, app navigation, and animation consciousness noticeably accelerated and fluid. 

Once you've acquisition 120Hz, it's hard to privation thing else. Apple didn't accidental what the iPhone 17e's refresh complaint is. However, we bash cognize it doesn't enactment ProMotion, truthful I deliberation it's just to accidental it's not moving astatine 120Hz; astir apt 60Hz.

Also: I took the iPhone 17 connected a travel to Hawaii, and it surpassed my expectations (until it didn't)

Beyond the refresh rate, the iPhone 17e besides features a larger 6.3-inch display, Always-On functionality, and a highest brightness of 3,000 nits. That precocious brightness makes a large quality outdoors, improving visibility nether nonstop sunlight. The 17e peaks astatine 1,200 nits. Altogether, these surface components marque the iPhone 17 consciousness adjacent to a Pro-level phone.

2. You privation much camera versatility

In summation to its 48MP Fusion main lens, the iPhone 17 includes a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera. Having this other lens makes the telephone much adaptable for photography. The ultra-wide camera, for example, is cleanable for large scenery shots oregon ample radical photos wherever stepping backmost isn't possible. 

It does deficiency a dedicated telephoto option. That lens is reserved for the iPhone 17 Pro. However, it does person an optical-quality 2x Telephoto mode conscionable similar the iPhone 17e, truthful you tin inactive seizure high-quality up-close shots.

Regardless of what's missing, that ultra-wide camera opens up mode much absorbing photography opportunities connected the iPhone 17. You tin much easy experimentation with antithetic perspectives oregon seizure much dynamic compositions. Under astir lighting conditions, the cameras connected the basal 17 execute rather well. Yes, the 17e tin nutrient fantabulous shots; there's nary uncertainty astir that. But the iPhone 17 is inactive amended wide and offers greater flexibility.

Writer's choice

Both of these phones are fantastic. There's nary question astir that. But if I had to prime one, I'd spell with the iPhone 17e. I'm not idiosyncratic who is into each the bells and whistles. I'm the benignant of idiosyncratic who isn't going to effort retired each other diagnostic oregon camera lens connected my mobile device. 

I powerfully similar a straightforward smartphone that works flawlessly close retired of the box. The iPhone 17e hits that saccharine spot for me. Its sleek design, coagulated performance, and susceptible camera each travel astatine a precise tenable price.

I worth simplicity and reliability supra each else, truthful if I'm ever successful the marketplace for a caller device, I'm picking the iPhone 17e. That said, if you're a shutterbug who wants a top-notch camera oregon a higher-quality touchscreen, drawback the iPhone 17.