Anyone looking to upgrade to a newer iPhone has plenty of options. However, for those looking to spend the least amount of money, there are only two models worth considering.
That’s why an iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17 face-off is necessary, seeing that they’re two most affordable new iPhones you can buy right now. With a $200 price gap between them, users have to carefully weigh the specific benefits and trade-offs of each.
In my iPhone 17 review, I noted how it offers “one of the best bang-for-the-buck deals in recent memory.” Not only does it benefit from significant upgrades — like doubling the base storage and adding a 120Hz display — but it also maintains the $799 price point. That said, you can’t count out the budget model, as I mentioned in my iPhone 17e review, Apple has finally made the right course corrections.
Article continues below
If you’re on the fence on which to go with, I’ll be grading them in all the categories below to determine a winner. Here’s what I found.
iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: Specifications
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
iPhone 17e |
iPhone 17 |
Row 0 – Cell 3 |
|
Price |
$599 / £599 / AU$999 |
$799 / £799 / AU$1,399 |
Row 1 – Cell 3 |
|
Display |
6.1-inch OLED |
6.3-inch OLED |
Row 2 – Cell 3 |
|
Refresh rate |
60Hz |
120Hz |
Row 3 – Cell 3 |
|
Rear cameras |
48MP main (f/1.6) |
48MP main (f/1.78), 48MP ultrawide (f/2.2) |
Row 4 – Cell 3 |
|
Front cameras |
12MP selfie (f/1.9) |
18MP (f/1.9) |
Row 5 – Cell 3 |
|
Chipset |
Apple A19 |
Apple A19 |
Row 6 – Cell 3 |
|
Storage |
256GB, 512GB |
256GB, 512GB |
Row 7 – Cell 3 |
|
Charging |
20W wired, 15W MagSafe wireless |
35W wired, 25W MagSafe wireless |
Row 8 – Cell 3 |
|
Operating system |
iOS 26 |
iOS 26 |
Row 9 – Cell 3 |
|
Water/dust resistance |
IP68 |
IP68 |
Row 10 – Cell 3 |
|
Size |
5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm) |
5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31-inches (149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95mm) |
Row 11 – Cell 3 |
|
Weight |
5.96 ounces (160 grams) |
6.24 ounces (177 grams) |
Row 12 – Cell 3 |
|
Colors |
Black, White, Soft Pink |
Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage, Lavender |
Row 13 – Cell 3 |
iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: Price and release date
The iPhone 17 launched on September 19, 2025, maintaining the same $799 starting price as the previous iPhone 16. What really adds to its value, however, is that Apple upgraded the base storage to 256GB.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 17e was released on March 11, 2026. Just like its more expensive sibling, it didn’t see a price hike — retailing for $599 — and it also benefits from that same jump to 256GB of starting storage.
When it comes pure value, I cannot stress enough how much more you get with the iPhone 17 compared to the iPhone 17e. The most significant differences include a wider range of color options, a smoother 120Hz refresh rate, dual cameras with support for spatial photos and videos, and the dedicated Camera Control button.
Winner: iPhone 17
iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: Design
Naturally, both phones feature the distinctive aesthetics that make them uniquely Apple devices. Their glass-and-aluminum construction makes them feel exceptionally sturdy, complemented by an identical IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. However, in my eyes, the iPhone 17 still boasts the superior design.
That’s partly because it features the less distracting Dynamic Island, whereas the iPhone 17e sticks with the older notch-style cutout that feels less seamless. Furthermore, the iPhone 17 offers a much wider variety of colors beyond just the traditional black and white options that are available with both. You can take your pick from Lavender, Sage and Mist Blue with the iPhone 17.
Winner: iPhone 17
iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: Display
This one isn’t even a contest. That’s because the iPhone 17 features the superior display in every category. Not only is it a larger 6.3-inch OLED, but it’s also substantially brighter, with a tested peak brightness of 1,505 nits. Side-by-side, the iPhone 17 is much better suited for outdoor use, as the iPhone 17e peaks at only 1,002 nits. Additionally, that notch-style cutout on the 17e remains a distraction when watching full-screen videos.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Peak brightness (nits) |
DCI-P3 (%) |
Delta-E color accuracy (lower is better) |
|
iPhone 17e |
1,002 |
89.6 |
0.21 |
|
iPhone 17 |
1,505 |
80.2 |
0.20 |
More importantly, the iPhone 17 benefits from a 120Hz ProMotion display. This provides a much more responsive feel when navigating the interface and makes gaming feel significantly smoother. Unfortunately for the iPhone 17e, it’s still stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate — which, in 2026, is frankly unacceptable for a device in this class.
At least the iPhone 17e’s panel is a bit more colorful, but that’s not enough.
Winner: iPhone 17
iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: Cameras
Two is better than one. That’s the core argument in this iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17 face-off, primarily because the latter holds an inherent advantage with its dual-camera setup. It features a 48MP main camera paired with a 48MP ultrawide, a combination that also enables the capture of spatial photos and videos.
While the iPhone 17e’s single 48MP rear camera might seem like a disadvantage, it does boast a wider f/1.6 aperture. Compared to the f/1.78 aperture on the iPhone 17’s main sensor, the 17e is technically better at gathering light, which should assist with action shots and low-light photography.
Finally, the iPhone 17 includes the Camera Control button. Even if you don’t use it constantly, it offers a more convenient way to capture content while providing more granular control over camera settings.
Image 1 of 2
So, how well does the iPhone 17e’s single rear camera compare? It actually produces superb results, as evidenced by the shots above of the skyscrapers reaching for the sky. Both phones offer excellent dynamic range, successfully balancing shadows and highlights throughout the frame. Upon closer inspection, I can see they retain the same level of definition around the buildings.
Image 1 of 2
They also handle panoramas beautifully with their main cameras, perfectly capturing the food truck along the side of the street. While their exposures and color temperatures appear identical, the iPhone 17 gives you the added versatility of capturing panoramas using its ultrawide camera.
Image 1 of 2
Another major difference lies in the selfie cameras: a 12MP TrueDepth sensor on the iPhone 17e versus an 18MP Center Stage shooter on the iPhone 17. Not only does the Center Stage camera provide more framing options, but its much wider field of view is also far better suited for group selfies. Interestingly, both capture a similar amount of fine detail; however, because the iPhone 17 starts with a wider shot, I appreciate being able to crop and edit the image without losing clarity.
Image 1 of 2
Macros are also handled better on the iPhone 17, largely because it features a dedicated macro mode. As a result, I’m able to get much closer to a subject than I can with the iPhone 17e. Since the iPhone 17 leans on its ultrawide camera for macros, the fine details of the leaf look nearly identical when zoomed in, yet I can tell the iPhone 17’s shot is a smidge sharper.
Image 1 of 2
For zooming, both phones rely on sensor cropping via their main cameras, topping out at 8x digital zoom. From the same vantage point, the statue above appears soft on both, but it’s interesting how they handle zoom enhancements differently. The iPhone 17e has a crisp look, but the surrounding stone blocks appear smudgy. In contrast, the iPhone 17 retains more definition in those blocks, though the statue itself looks a tad softer.
Image 1 of 2
Interestingly, it’s the iPhone 17 that delivers the brighter low light shot with the tree in my backyard above. As a result, it draws out more of the details hidden in the shadows. I can’t knock the iPhone 17e here as it delivers a sharp image as well, but it’s under exposed by comparison.
Despite having only a single rear camera, the iPhone 17e still pulls off incredible shots filled with outstanding detail. However, I still prefer having the iPhone 17 in my pocket for the extra utility of that 48MP ultrawide lens, as well as its superior selfie and macro performance.
Winner: iPhone 17
iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: Performance
One thing Apple certainly deserves credit for is powering both phones with the same A19 chip. Unsurprisingly, the benchmark scores for both are nearly identical, though the iPhone 17 does edge out slightly better averages in Geekbench 6.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
iPhone 17e |
iPhone 17 |
|
Chipset |
Apple A19 |
Apple A18 |
|
Geekbench 6 (single-core/multi-core) |
3,606 / 9,229 |
3,701 / 9,460 |
|
3DMark Wild Life Original Unlimited (score/fps) |
18,533 / 110.9 |
11,904 / 130.97 |
I also have no complaints regarding their graphics processing performance either, as both phones reach almost identical average frame rates in 3DMark’s Wild Life Unlimited test. However, the real-world difference lies in the iPhone 17’s 120Hz display refresh rate.
While you might overlook it at first, the difference becomes immediate when scrolling through long web pages or launching apps. The iPhone 17 simply feels more responsive. This is also apparent when running games like Diablo Immortal, which looks much smoother on the iPhone 17. Don’t get me wrong, the iPhone 17e is more than capable of running this dungeon crawler with ray tracing enabled, but it lacks the fluidness of its more expensive sibling.
Winner: iPhone 17
iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: Battery life and charging
Considering they’re nearly the same size and powered by the A19 chip, it’s no surprise that the battery life is remarkably similar for both phones. Technically speaking, the iPhone 17 edges out the iPhone 17e in our battery drain test, clocking an average of 12 hours and 47 minutes — compared to the 17e’s 12 hours and 35 minutes.
In my day-to-day use, I don’t notice one offering significantly more juice than the other. While I can get through a standard workday without needing a mid-day top-off, more demanding users might find themselves reaching for a cable.
|
Average Battery life (Hrs:Mins) |
Charging % in 15 minutes |
Charging % in 30 minutes |
|
|
iPhone 17e |
12:35 |
31% |
59% |
|
iPhone 17 |
12:47 |
39% |
71% |
It’s worth noting that these results were achieved with the iPhone 17 running at its native 120Hz refresh rate. I suspect you could squeeze out even more life by capping it at the same 60Hz refresh rate as the iPhone 17e.
The iPhone 17 also takes the lead in charging, thanks to its 35W wired charging, which is notably faster than the 17e’s 20W speed. Furthermore, while the iPhone 17e finally gains MagSafe support, it’s still limited to 15W wireless charging — whereas the iPhone 17 supports faster 25W speeds.
Winner: iPhone 17
iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: Software and special features
The beauty of the iPhone lineup is that the software experience is practically uniform across all models. Whether you choose the iPhone 17e or the iPhone 17, you’re getting iOS 26. Both phones feature the new Liquid Glass material design, which offers some of the best home and lock screen personalization tools currently available.
Likewise, both devices have access to the full suite of iOS 26 tools, including Call Screen, enhanced group messaging, live translation, and the streamlined iOS 26 camera app. They also share the same Apple Intelligence features, such as Photo Clean Up, the revamped Siri, and Visual Intelligence. With the latter, I can pull it up instantly by long-pressing the Camera Control button on the iPhone 17 — whereas on the iPhone 17e, it must be programmed to the Action Button.
The remaining differences in software performance pertain to how the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17 complements the UI by providing quick access to Live Activities, app widgets, and notifications. Furthermore, the iPhone 17 supports video-out via its USB-C port — a feature noticeably absent on the iPhone 17e.
Fundamentally, the software experience is the same, but the iPhone 17 clearly offers more functional benefits.
Winner: iPhone 17
iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: Verdict
For an extra $200, the iPhone 17 provides significantly more value, so it’s no surprise that it emerges as the unanimous winner. Unless you are strictly looking to spend the absolute minimum on a new iPhone — and don’t mind the compromises required to reach that price point — the iPhone 17e wouldn’t be my pick.
If your budget allows for that extra cost, the iPhone 17 is a much better fit for a modern smartphone, offering a dual-camera setup, a bigger and smoother 120Hz refresh rate, and the Dynamic Island. Add in faster wireless charging for the iPhone 17 and other perks like Cinematic Mode for videos and it’s a pretty easy call to make.
Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
Leave a comment