Apple announces new iPhone 17e, a $599 budget smartphone with MagSafe

Source: Mashable Tech

On Monday, Apple officially announced that its latest budget smartphone, the iPhone 17e, will be available for preorder on Wednesday, March 4, starting at $599, alongside a new M4 iPad Air.

It’s a big week for Apple. On Friday, Tim Cook revealed that the company would be announcing new products starting today, ahead of its latest Apple event on Wednesday. Rumors have circulated about a budget MacBook—possibly with a touchscreen—as well as a new iPad and iPhone.

iPhone 17e: Specs and cameras

According to an Apple press release, the iPhone 17e is powered by the A19 chipset, the same chip found in the base‑model iPhone 17. It also includes Apple’s latest in‑house 5G modem, the C1X, which Apple says is twice as fast as the C1 used in the iPhone 16e.

The device features a 6.1‑inch Super Retina XDR display and Ceramic Shield 2, which is three times more scratch‑resistant than the previous generation.

Credit: Apple

The iPhone 17e has a single camera lens that utilizes Apple’s 2‑in‑1 camera system, combining a 48 MP wide‑angle sensor with a telephoto Fusion camera. Storage starts at 256 GB, double that of its predecessor.

The iPhone 17e adds MagSafe

Credit: Apple

For the first time in Apple’s budget smartphone line, the iPhone 17e includes MagSafe, making it compatible with Apple’s range of MagSafe accessories and wireless‑charging peripherals.

How to preorder the iPhone 17e

The iPhone 17e is priced at $599, $200 less than the base iPhone 17 with the same chipset and storage. It will be offered in three colors: White, Black, and Soft Pink.

Pre‑orders begin on Wednesday, March 4, likely right after the Apple event, and the phone will ship one week later on Wednesday, March 11.

Mashable will be testing the new budget iPhone as soon as possible, so stay tuned for updates and further preorder details.