iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: What’s the Difference?

3 min read

As a tech journalist with a love for both Android and iOS devices, and a long history of testing both, the iPhone 17 series is one of my favorite smartphone lineups to date. I own the Pro Max, and incredible for content creation, with sharp cameras that deliver crisp videos for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and whatever else you want to post to your adoring followers. But it’s expensive, really dang expensive. It’ll set you back $1,200, that’s half a rent check where I’m from. That’s where Apple’s iPhone “e” lineup comes into play.

The iPhone 17e, which starts at $599, offers a more budget-friendly entry into the Apple ecosystem. But the question is, how does it compare to the plain iPhone 17 that’s $200 more? And if you have an iPhone 16e (the first in this new class of price-minded models), is it worth upgrading?

Dear reader, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for more clarity on Apple’s new iPhone.

iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17

Saving the $200 comes with some compromises, obviously. The iPhone 17e has a smaller 6.1-inch display compared to the iPhone 17’s slightly larger 6.3-inch screen. You’re also sacrificing the iPhone 17’s brighter display (3,000 nits peak brightness) for the 17e’s dimmer panel (1,200 nits peak brightness).

Apple

The iPhone 17e’s display is slightly smaller than the iPhone 17’s panel.

While both models share the 48MP wide camera, the iPhone 17e doesn’t have an ultrawide lens, meaning you won’t get as broad a field of view for landscapes, group shots, or architecture. The front-facing cameras differ as well: The iPhone 17e has a 12MP sensor, while the iPhone 17 steps up to 18MP. That said, the slight drop in megapixels on the 17e may be negligible for an average user.

Apple

The iPhone 17e has limited camera capabilities compared to the iPhone 17.

On the plus side, the iPhone 17e is marginally lighter, weighing 6 ounces compared to the iPhone 17’s 6.2 ounces. Both have the same A19 chipset, which, according to Apple, delivers…

Source