Apple’s iPhone 17e: A19 Chip, MagSafe, 256GB for $599
▼ Summary
– Apple is launching the new iPhone 17e in March, available for preorder on March 4 and for sale on March 11 starting at $599.
– The phone features an Apple A19 chip with six CPU cores and four GPU cores, an upgraded C1X cellular modem, and supports Apple Intelligence.
– It includes a more durable Ceramic Shield 2 front glass and a display coating that is three times more scratch-resistant and better at reducing glare.
– Two key upgrades are the addition of MagSafe charging, which the previous model lacked, and a base storage increase from 128GB to 256GB.
– A higher-capacity 512GB model is also available for $799, making the base model a more attractive value proposition.
Apple’s latest mid-year smartphone refresh arrives with the iPhone 17e, a device that significantly refines the value proposition of its predecessor. Available for preorder on March 4th and launching March 11th, this model starts at an attractive $599. This strategic release continues Apple’s pattern of offering a more accessible entry point into its ecosystem outside the flagship September cycle, directly replacing last year’s iPhone 16e with meaningful enhancements.
Under the hood, the iPhone 17e is powered by the same Apple A19 chip found in the pricier iPhone 17, featuring a six-core CPU. While it utilizes four GPU cores instead of five, this represents a substantial generational leap in processing power. The phone also benefits from an upgraded cellular modem, moving from the Apple C1 to the faster C1X. Critically, it supports Apple Intelligence, strongly suggesting it shares the iPhone 17’s 8GB of RAM, ensuring robust performance for AI-driven features.
Durability and display quality see notable improvements. The front glass is the new Ceramic Shield 2, identical to the protection on the standard iPhone 17 and touted as more resilient. Apple also highlights a proprietary coating on the display that is reportedly three times more scratch-resistant than the previous model’s, while also doing a better job of cutting down on reflections and glare for improved visibility.
Perhaps the most compelling upgrades for everyday users are two features that bridge the gap with the flagship model. First, the iPhone 17e now includes support for MagSafe charging, addressing a key omission from the iPhone 16e and unlocking a wide ecosystem of accessories. Second, and just as important, the base storage has been doubled. The $599 model now comes with 256GB of storage, a major upgrade from the previous 128GB entry point, making it a far more practical option out of the box. For users needing even more space, a 512GB configuration is available for $799.
(Source: Ars Technica)
