iPhone 17e Reviews: Two Key Upgrades

[bluecoast]

The Verge review summed it up really - with the regular iPhone 17 having the features it does for just $200 more, why not get that?

But yet:

Many people are price sensitive.

Many people will buy this through their carrier, who will no doubt have some great deals.

And many people simply don't care about AoD and 120hz and only ever use the main camera (and that's OK) and who find the camera control fiddly and confusing (ok, that's nearly everyone).

And many people on these forums will say - why not get a 2nd hand iPhone 15 pro for much the same price?

Sure. But many people do not want to receive a slightly dinged phone that might only have 80% battery capacity and unable to be enrolled in AppleCare or other insurancers. Hmm, that battery replacement out of warranty isn't cheap. Now this isn't sounding such a great deal after all.

So I'm glad that this iPhone exists.

 

[cicalinarrot]

The island takes up more space than the notch because the space above it is dead space. I wouldn't say its better and the widgets are a little silly because they're still way away from your thumbs. iOS is smooth enough to not really need VRR like the iPad or Mac. In reality its whether or not the ultrawide is worth $200. I would question that.

The Dynamic Island isn't perfect but I think it's just better than not having it. I think there would have been many ways to solve that and give the choice to people with a notch.
I'm glad they've made some notifications less dumb for everybody (I think snooze alert finally became usable for all with iOS 26) but I still don't like that difference.

 

[orangeadrenaline]

The 17 is $230 more unless you’re buying locked to a carrier. This is almost never mentioned.

 

[klasma]

Perhaps there is more economics to it on the side of Apple manufacturing, but why put in an A19 processor when the A18 is still in production (even better, maybe use culled copies from the Neo or regular iPhone 16)?

The fab lines are specific to the processor models, can’t easily be repurposed, and don’t have unlimited capacity. Once a fab line has been built, it has to be used a couple of years to get their money’s worth. Apple has to balance the fab capacities against the models they want to release, and allocate the SoCs accordingly. Putting the same SoC into everything would limit the total amount of units that can be sold, and not continuing to use the older fab lines would increase their amortized cost.

 

[klasma]

The Dynamic Island isn't perfect but I think it's just better than not having it. I think there would have been many ways to solve that and give the choice to people with a notch.

Personally I’m glad the notch remains as an option for those like me who prefer it.

 

[840quadra]

Wouldn’t A19 be faster than the A17pro?

For sure,

But doubting many in the market for a 17e care much about CPU speed. Even if they did, the scores aren't that far off on the A19 pro. Now if they are doing something intense in Metal, that would make a difference, but still doubting most in this market are.





I daily drive a 13 Pro and a 17 Pro. In everything but my photo / video editing tools, or when I am doing 3D modeling in Matterport, the basic speed of both phones is quite similar that I hardly even notice. Compared to the previous 2 scores shared, my 13 pro should be in the trash, but honestly still does good for even some high CPU loading applications.

 

[840quadra]

The fab lines are specific to the processor models, can’t easily be repurposed, and don’t have unlimited capacity. Once a fab line has been built, it has to be used a couple of years to get their money’s worth. Apple has to balance the fab capacities against the models they want to release, and allocate the SoCs accordingly. Putting the same SoC into everything would limit the total amount of units that can be sold, and not continuing to use the older fab lines would increase their amortized cost.

I get that.

The iPhone 16 is still sold new, hence my ask on the A18 Processor (for a phone) and perhaps using culled copies for their entry level iPhone 17e.

 

[orangeadrenaline]

Seems like they could’ve easily sold a 128 GB model for $499 but I suspect that price would steal too many sales from higher trims.

 

[turbineseaplane]

After playing with a 16e and 17 & Air yesterday in the store, I was really struck by how cheap the 16e feels.

You can immediately tell it's the bargain bin phone.

That alone would turn me off as I keep my phones a while and found the in hand feel to be very "meh" straight away. It was my very first thought when picking it up.

I'd rather have a mainline or Pro phone from a year or two prior.

 

[orangeadrenaline]

After playing with a 16e and 17 & Air yesterday in the store, I was really struck by how cheap the 16e feels.

You can immediately tell it's the bargain bin phone.

That alone would turn me off as I keep my phones a while and found the in hand feel to be very "meh" straight away. It was my very first thought when picking it up.

I'd rather have a mainline or Pro phone from a year or two prior.

They purposely put them next to each other for the comparison. It’s luxury vs economy. Ignorance is bliss.

 

[turbineseaplane]

They purposely put them next to each other for the comparison. It’s luxury vs economy. Ignorance is bliss.

Comparison wasn't needed .. 16e I picked up first and thought it felt like a cheap piece of junk.

It was only solidified by the comparison.

 

[orangeadrenaline]

Comparison wasn't needed .. 16e I picked up first and thought it felt like a cheap piece of junk.

It was only solidified by the comparison.

I’m coming from the 12 mini and the 16e felt fine. SNAPPY even. The e are for folks like me, coming from SE or 12 and below.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I’m coming from the 12 mini and the 16e felt fine. SNAPPY even. The e are for folks like me, coming from SE or 12 and below.

As a 13 Mini user, I disagree.
Enjoy!

 

[orangeadrenaline]

As a 13 Mini user, I disagree.
Enjoy!

I said 12 and below, so you actually agree.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Personally I’m glad the notch remains as an option for those like me who prefer it.

That makes sense... but we could have got both! Notch with adapted Island features that could be turned off.

 

[klasma]

That makes sense... but we could have got both! Notch with adapted Island features that could be turned off.

True, and Apple could have done that when they introduced the Dynamic Island (or even before!). But of course they didn’t, because it would have raised the question of what the purpose of the DI is, if just provides the same functionality. And Apple is even less likely to add it now, only for the benefit of old/lower-tier models.

 

[McKodiak]

Bought the 17e as my kids first phone.

 

[Johnny907]

No UWB = No Buy
Throwing away sales for a $2 chip is certainly a choice, Apple.

 

[sos47]

I wouldn’t Buy it, but i looks nice.

 

[subjonas]

Apple really cheaped out by not including Promotion, Dynamic Island, OLED, the faster chip, ultrawide, and telephoto. The only difference between the E and Pro should be the price.

 

[840quadra]

Apple really cheaped out by not including Promotion, Dynamic Island, OLED, the faster chip, ultrawide, and telephoto. The only difference between the E and Pro should be the price.

Your facts are not correct.

The E has the same chip as the regular 17 minus 1 GPU core and possibly a slightly different clock. The 17e actually has OLED, just not Pro Motion.

 

[snipr125]

Well its lighter weight, smaller size (6.1") and 4000 Mh battery are definitely its main USP, along with its price.

 

[svish]

The 17e is a good phone. With the addition of MagSafe and double the storage at same price, the phone can be recommended. Though there is a new color this year, it is still very pale. Would have liked better colors. I would prefer to spend bit more and go for base 17 with additional camera, modern design without notch.