Apple has unveiled a new version of its less-expensive iPhone, kicking off a week of announcements that’s also tipped to include an entry-level MacBook.
The iPhone 17e includes several upgrades over last year’s 16e, starting with double the storage (256GB) for the same $999 price. This may seem like a minor thing, but borders on miraculous, given the tech industry’s ongoing memory crisis, which has raised prices on practically everything.
On the front of the phone, Apple added its Ceramic Shield 2 glass for better protection against cracks, scratches and glare, while on the rear, the 17e now supports MagSafe for faster, more efficient magnetic charging and compatibility with a range of mounts, cases and accessories. This was a notable omission from the 16e.
And finally, the 17e inherits the A19 chip from the iPhone 17, albeit with slightly less graphical power, for superior processing speed and on-board AI.
Besides those key upgrades, the new smartphone sticks very closely to the design of the 16e. It’s visually identical, with the now-outdated notch at the top of its 6.1-inch OLED screen, though its aluminium body now comes with the option of a pink finish, in addition to black and white. The phone also sticks with just one camera, the same as last year’s phone.
Given it uses the same chip, Apple’s E-series is effectively an upgrade path that gets you the software features of the latest iPhone for $400 less. But the iPhone 17 also has some significant advantages over the less-expensive phone, including a brighter, smoother 120Hz display with always-on capabilities, the Dynamic Island notch, a secondary ultra-wide rear camera, and faster graphics processing.
Apple had been rumoured to be preparing several product announcements for this week, which chief executive Tim Cook confirmed last week in a post on X. Alongside the iPhone 17e, the company unveiled a refreshed iPad Air, which comes with the M4 chip and more memory at the same price of $999 for the 11-inch model and $1349 for the 13-inch. Both devices will be available on March 11.
Leaks and rumours indicate that the coming days may bring a new, less-expensive MacBook that runs on an iPhone chip and comes in brightly coloured finishes, plus new M5 MacBook Pros, a new base-model iPad that supports Apple Intelligence, and new Studio desktop computers and displays.
Emarketer analyst Jacob Bourne said the slate of products was a concerted push by Apple to revamp its line-up around mass market price points, giving it an edge over rivals amid the memory crisis.
“The company clearly sees the economic writing on the wall amid flat holiday consumer spending, a stagnating job market, and persistent inflation pushing consumers toward value over luxury,” he said.
“Affordability, in this case, is a calculated bet that winning market share is worth absorbing near-term margin pressure. Apple is playing the long game by using affordable hardware as the gateway to its ecosystem, and ultimately Apple Intelligence, during a time when the AI capabilities race is intensifying.”
Later in the year, Apple will debut its iPhone 18 models, the Pro variants of which are expected to feature an under-display Face ID module and new 2nm chips. The company is also widely tipped to introduce its first foldable phone this year, though it’s unlikely to cost less than $2000.
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Tim Biggs is a writer covering consumer technology, gadgets and video games.Connect via X or email.