MagSafe Monday: The iPhone 17e fixes the biggest flaw of the 16e

Source Domain: 9to5mac.com

MagSafe is table stakes for me. I never considered the iPhone 16e because of that. That changes with the brand new iPhone 17e. By finally adding MagSafe to its $599 device, Apple has standardized the accessory experience across the entire lineup.

MagSafe Monday: Every Monday, Bradley Chambers looks at the latest and greatest in the MagSafe and wireless charging industry to help you get the most out of your Apple devices that support wireless charging.

For many years, there was a significant gap in performance between entry-level iPhone models and Pro models. If you wanted a fast phone, you had to spend the extra money. That is just not the case anymore. The chips Apple puts in every device are so incredibly powerful now that the need to go Pro is becoming increasingly rare. In fact, had I waited to upgrade my iPhone 15 Pro, I would have gone with this model over the 17 Pro.

When you add what used to be premium features like MagSafe to the lower-cost iPhone, it makes it even harder to justify spending top dollar just to check emails, take a few photos, check Slack, listen to Apple Music, and browse the web. The 17e really highlights how good the baseline experience has become. It proves you do not need the most expensive model to get a premium daily experience.

Enter MagSafe

In the past, cheaper iPhones felt a bit short on features. If you bought an older iPhone SE or even last year’s 16e, you were stuck with basic Qi charging pads that required perfect physical alignment. After using MagSafe, I refuse to go back. Now, whether you buy an iPhone 17 Pro Max or an iPhone 17e, your accessories are exactly the same.

You can use the exact same MagSafe car mount for road trips, the same desk charger at your office, and the same MagSafe wallet for your driver’s license and credit cards. MagSafe is the great equalizer here, making the 17e feel significantly more premium by tapping into the exact same ecosystem as the…

Source