How to preorder the iPhone 17e, Apples new budget phone
Source: Mashable Tech
Apple kicked off its big week by announcing the latest budget iPhone, its first with MagSafe, alongside an updated iPad Air. The new iPhone 17e is set for release on Wednesday, March 11, and pre‑orders open on Wednesday, March 4. (This story will be updated with retailers’ preorder listings as soon as they’re live.)
Release and Preorder Dates
- Release: March 11, 2026
- Pre‑order start: March 4, 2026
Pricing and Storage
The iPhone 17e starts at $599 with 256 GB of storage. This doubles the base storage of last year’s iPhone 16e, which cost the same.
The iPhone 17e is the smallest, cheapest, and pinkest member of the iPhone 17 family. Credit: Apple
Hardware and Performance
Processor and Modem
Apple says the iPhone 17e runs on its A19 chip, the same processor used in the standard iPhone 17. It includes the new C1X cellular modem, reportedly up to twice as fast as the iPhone 16e’s C1 modem.
MagSafe
For the first time in Apple’s budget line, the iPhone 17e supports MagSafe wireless charging.
Design and Display
The iPhone 17e retains the 6.1‑inch OLED Super Retina XDR display from its predecessor but adds an upgraded Ceramic Shield 2 front cover. A new soft pink finish distinguishes it from earlier models. It is slightly heavier than the iPhone 16e—5.96 oz versus 5.88 oz—to accommodate the upgraded components.
Camera System
- Rear: New 48 MP Fusion camera system (48 MP Fusion Main camera)
- Front: 12 MP TrueDepth camera
Full Spec Sheet
- 6.1‑inch Super Retina XDR display
- Ceramic Shield 2 front cover
- A19 chip
- Up to 26 hours of video playback
- 12 MP TrueDepth front camera
- 48 MP Fusion rear camera system
- Emergency SOS and Crash Detection
- MagSafe wireless charging
- 256 GB or 512 GB storage options
- IP68 rating
- Apple Intelligence
Comparison to iPhone 16e
Mashable’s Stan Schroeder described the iPhone 16e as “pretty great when compared to other members of the iPhone 16 family,” but noted the lack of MagSafe and a higher price than the older iPhone SE. The iPhone 17e addresses those shortcomings with MagSafe support, a larger base storage option, and upgraded internals, making it a promising upgrade on paper. Full review to follow.