I spent a week testing the iPhone 17e — and you really shouldn’t overlook it

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I’ll be the first to admit that I was harsh on the iPhone 16e last year, especially as a longtime fan of the iPhone SE series. That’s why I noted in my iPhone 17e review how thrilled I was that Apple finally released a worthier successor.

In today’s market, the best cheap phones require more than just an attractive price tag to prove they’re worth buying — and after spending over a week testing it, the iPhone 17e has more than proven its value. Whether you’re looking to stay in the Apple ecosystem or upgrading from a much older model, the iPhone 17e remains a logical choice.

Here’s what I really think about Apple’s new budget phone now that I’ve spent more time with it.

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MagSafe support was long overdue

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

Honestly, it’s crazy how much I rely on MagSafe nowadays — so much so that I’d gladly sacrifice a bit of battery life to have native magnetic wireless charging. While an easy fix for most phones is to buy any of the best iPhone 17e cases with a magnetic connection, it’s simply more convenient to have it built-in without any additional spending.

Now that Apple has finally brought MagSafe support to the iPhone 17e, I can use all of my favorite accessories with it. I’m not just referring to the 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers or battery packs I frequently test — I’m talking about niche essentials like my MagSafe Wallet and other peripherals like my Satechi USB-C hub.

Satisfying gaming performance

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

Powered by the same A19 chip as the more expensive iPhone 17, the 17e feels super snappy. This is a big deal for me, as it easily handles games like Diablo Immortal without any performance issues. While the benchmark scores I ran prove it’s more than capable of running graphically intensive titles, seeing…

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