5 reasons to buy the iPhone 17e and 3 reasons to skip it

5 reasons to buy the iPhone 17e and 3 reasons to skip it

https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/iphones/5-reasons-to-buy-the-iphone-17e-and-3-reasons-to-skip-it

Publish Date: 2026-02-07 03:45:00

Source Domain: www.tomsguide.com

All of the iPhone 17e rumors hint that Apple might release its budget model sooner than you think. In fact, we could see it arrive in a matter of weeks, with February 19 as a potential launch date for this best iPhone contender. But at the same time, it makes me wonder if it’s worth the upgrade.

That’s because in my iPhone 16e review, I mentioned how it comes with certain trade-offs that are dealbreakers for some people. With these rumored upgrades, though, I’m crossing my fingers that they’re enough to convince people to choose it over other phones — including the rumored Pixel 10a expected to launch at around the same time, as well as the current iPhone 17 that I love. Here are all the reasons I think you should buy the iPhone 17e, along with a few reasons to skip it entirely.

iPhone 17e: Reasons to buy

MagSafe wireless charging support

(Image credit: Future)

I can’t stress enough how essential MagSafe support has become. While Apple famously omitted this feature from the iPhone 16e, rumors suggest the iPhone 17e will finally include the necessary hardware for full MagSafe compatibility.

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This is a vital addition for any new iPhone in 2026 — even an affordable one — because it allows users to wirelessly charge their devices with ease. Another notable upgrade rumored for the 17e is support for the same 25W MagSafe charging speeds found in the flagship iPhone 17 lineup.

As someone who relies on various MagSafe accessories daily, I’m thrilled that Apple may finally bringing proper magnetic support to its budget iPhone.

Powerful A19 performance

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Since it’s part of the iPhone 17 family, the iPhone 17e will likely be powered by Apple’s A19…

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