Budget iPhone with A19 chip, 6.1-inch display, and Apple Intelligence features
Key Features
6.1" display (86% STB ratio)
Apple A19 (3nm)
12MP f/1.9 camera + SL 3D depth
4005mAh battery
iOS 26 with Apple Intelligence
Face ID
256GB / 512GB, 8GB RAM
Same updates as flagship iPhones
Price: $599
Specifications
Battery
Capacity
4005 mAh
Charging
20W wired 15W MagSafe wireless 7.5W Qi
Camera
Main Camera
12 MP f/1.9 23mm wide PDAF
Depth Sensor
SL 3D biometrics
Selfie Camera
12 MP f/1.9 wide
Video
4K@24/30/60fps 1080p@30/60fps Cinematic mode
Connectivity
5G
Yes
Bluetooth
5.3
NFC
Yes
USB
USB Type-C 2.0
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Design
Colors
Black White Pink Green
Dimensions
142.2 x 69.8 x 7.2 mm
Weight
163 g
Water Resistance
IP68
Display
Screen Size
6.1 inches
Type
OLED 60Hz HDR True Tone
Performance
Chipset
Apple A19 (3nm)
RAM
8 GB
Software
OS
iOS 26 with Apple Intelligence
Sound
Speakers
Stereo speakers
3.5mm Jack
No
Storage
Internal Storage
256GB / 512GB
Card Slot
No
Pros & Cons
Pros
A19 chip enables full Apple Intelligence features
Face ID with SL 3D sensor — modern design, no Home button
Same iOS 26 updates and software support as flagship iPhones
IP68 water resistance
MagSafe wireless charging support
Compact and lightweight at 163g
256GB base storage is generous
Cons
Single 12MP rear camera — no ultrawide or telephoto
60Hz display refresh rate
20W wired charging is slow by 2026 standards
No always-on display
No USB-C 3.0 — limited to USB 2.0 speeds
Starting price of $599 is high for a budget iPhone
Review
The Apple iPhone 17e replaces the SE line as Apple's most affordable iPhone, and the upgrade is substantial. The A19 chip on 3nm delivers performance that matches or exceeds last year's flagships, while enabling the full suite of Apple Intelligence features including on-device AI processing, advanced Siri capabilities, and intelligent photo editing.
The 6.1-inch display brings modern design language to Apple's budget tier, finally moving away from the dated Home button form factor. A 12MP main camera with f/1.9 aperture handles photos capably, though this is a single-lens setup with a depth sensor rather than a true dual camera system. Face ID via the SL 3D sensor replaces Touch ID.
Battery capacity jumps to 4005mAh, addressing one of the biggest complaints about previous budget iPhones. Storage starts at 256GB with an option for 512GB, both with 8GB RAM to ensure smooth AI processing.
At 599 GBP, the iPhone 17e is not cheap by budget phone standards, but it runs the same iOS 26 and receives the same software updates as the iPhone 17 Pro Max.