Apple iPhone 17e review: Ticks every box but one
Apple iPhone 17e review: Ticks every box but one
https://mashable.com/review/iphone-17e-review
Publish Date: 2026-04-09 08:35:00
Source Domain: mashable.com
Apple’s first “e” model iPhone, the iPhone 16e, wasn’t just a review unit for me; I actually lived with it as my main phone for over six months. And while I still stand by what I wrote in my review last year — it was surprisingly powerful for a “cheap” phone, with excellent battery life — the one thing I couldn’t stand was its camera.
On paper, the camera was the same as the main camera on the iPhone 16. In reality, it was similar, but it produced way worse photos in low light. Photos of my kids dancing in the living room in the evening, or friends chatting over dinner, or a band playing in a small club? Most of those turned out pretty bad.
With the iPhone 17e, which came out in March, Apple fixed most of the other annoyances that plagued the original model. The camera is a little better, but is it enough?
Same look, but now with MagSafe
Focusing on said previous grievances, the iPhone 17e supports MagSafe, Apple’s magnetic, wireless charging tech that makes it easy to slap various accessories onto the phone.
MagSafe support means MagSafe cases are available for the iPhone 17e, too.
Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable
Apple sent me an iPhone 17e unit for review, and I was happily able to use my Apple Wallet and magnetic chargers with it. Apple also sent me a Clear Case with MagSafe, and while it may not be my favorite case in terms of design, it was a relief to be able to charge the phone magnetically without removing the case.
The ability to use MagSafe chargers and accessories is just about the only physical difference between the iPhone 17e and 16e, though. The iPhone 17e looks exactly the same as its predecessor, with the only difference being the new color, Soft Pink. The unit Apple sent me was in this color, and I can tell you that it is a very nice, but indeed a very soft pink.
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