iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 16e: What's new on Apple's latest $599 handset
Source: Engadget
iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 16e: What’s New?
Apple’s most affordable iPhone just got an upgrade. The price stays at $599, but the iPhone 17e brings a new color option, a faster chip, and double the storage. Below is a cleaned‑up look at the differences between the iPhone 17e and its predecessor, the iPhone 16e.
Quick Overview
- Price: $599 (unchanged)
- New color: Pink (in addition to the existing shades)
- Chip: A19 (vs. A18)
- Storage: Starts at 256 GB (vs. 128 GB)
- Wireless charging: Up to 15 W (vs. 7.5 W)
Pre‑orders begin at 9:15 AM ET on March 4. A full review is on the way.
Design & Display
- Color: The iPhone 17e introduces a shiny pink finish—an elegant, understated hue that breaks away from the usual black/white/gray palette.
- Dimensions: Both models measure 5.78 × 2.82 × 0.31 in.
- Weight:
- iPhone 17e – 5.96 oz
- iPhone 16e – 5.88 oz (a negligible 0.08 oz difference)
- Durability: The 17e uses Ceramic Shield 2, claimed to be three times more scratch‑resistant than the original Ceramic Shield on the 16e.
- Display: No changes. Both feature a 6.1‑inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with:
- 1,200‑nit peak brightness
- 2,532 × 1,170 resolution (460 ppi)
Cameras
- Rear camera system (both):
- 48 MP Fusion main sensor
- 12 MP 2× Telephoto lens
- Digital zoom up to 10×
- Missing ultrawide: Neither model includes an ultrawide lens, so the field of view is limited compared to higher‑end iPhones.
- New portrait capability (17e): Recognizes dogs and cats in Portrait mode and saves depth data, allowing post‑capture portrait effects. The 16e struggled with non‑human subjects.
- Front camera (both): 12 MP TrueDepth selfie camera – solid performance with no major complaints.
Processor, Battery Life & Charging
| Feature | iPhone 17e | iPhone 16e |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | A19 | A18 |
| CPU boost | ~5 % faster | – |
| GPU boost | >10 % faster (per CPU Monkey) | – |
| Battery capacity | 4,005 mAh (reported) | 4,005 mAh |
| Video playback | Up to 26 h | Up to 26 h |
| Streaming | Up to 21 h | Up to 21 h |
| Wireless charging | Up to 15 W (Qi 2 fast) | Up to 7.5 W (Qi) |
The performance bump is modest for casual users but noticeable for power users. Battery endurance remains the same, but the 17e charges wirelessly at double the wattage.
iOS 26 & Apple Intelligence
Both phones ship with iOS 26 and support Apple Intelligence. The A19 chip in the 17e should deliver smoother AI‑related tasks, though the feature set is otherwise identical.
Specs at a Glance
| Spec | iPhone 17e | iPhone 16e |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599 | $599 |
| Processor | A19 chip | A18 chip |
| Display | Super Retina XDR, 6.1‑in, 2,532 × 1,170, OLED, 460 ppi | Same |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Wireless charging | Up to 15 W | Up to 7.5 W |
| Rear camera | 48 MP Fusion + 12 MP 2× Telephoto, 10× digital zoom | Same |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth | Same |
Bottom Line
The iPhone 17e keeps the $599 price tag while adding a fresh pink color, a more robust A19 processor, double the base storage, and faster wireless charging. Display and battery life stay the same, and camera hardware is unchanged aside from improved portrait AI. If you value the new color and the modest performance uplift, the 17e is a worthwhile upgrade; otherwise, the 16e remains a solid, cost‑effective option.
Stay tuned for our full hands‑on review.
Camera
- 12 MP selfie camera
SIM
- Dual SIM (two active eSIMs)
Connectivity
- Wi‑Fi 6E
- Bluetooth v5.3
- NFC
Operating System
- Launched with iOS 18
This article originally appeared on Engadget: iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 16e – What’s new on Apple’s latest 5.99‑handset?