What is the iPhone 17e and why does it matter now?
The iPhone 17e is a mid-range smartphone made by Apple, priced at $599 (AU$999), featuring the A19 chip, 256GB base storage, and MagSafe wireless charging — upgrades that make it a genuinely compelling option where the iPhone 16e fell short. Tom’s Guide called it “what the iPhone 16e should’ve been from the start” after a week of testing, and that verdict is hard to argue with. The timing matters: Apple Intelligence is rolling out, the Pixel 10a is gunning for the same wallet, and anyone sitting on an older iPhone is looking for a sensible upgrade path that does not cost flagship money.
iPhone 17e upgrades that actually change the experience
The A19 chip is the headliner, and the performance gap it creates is real. In Geekbench 6, the iPhone 17e scores nearly double the Pixel 10a’s single and multi-core results. In 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited, it hits 110.9 fps against the Pixel 10a’s 58.49 fps. Those numbers are not just benchmark theatre — they translate to snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and a device that will handle whatever iOS throws at it for years to come.
MagSafe is the other upgrade that deserves more credit than it typically gets. The iPhone 16e shipped with standard Qi wireless charging and no magnetic alignment system, which meant fiddly placement and slower wireless speeds. The iPhone 17e’s MagSafe support snaps onto magnetic stands, car mounts, and battery packs with precision, turning wireless charging from a convenience into a genuine ecosystem. It is a small quality-of-life change that owners will notice every single day. Storage doubling from the iPhone 16e’s base configuration to 256GB here is also quietly significant — running out of space on a $599 phone is an embarrassing problem Apple has now fixed.
The display uses Ceramic Shield 2 glass, which Apple claims is three times more scratch resistant than the first-generation Ceramic Shield. JerryRigEverything’s durability testing found only light scratches at level 7 on the Mohs scale, which is a solid result for a phone in this price range. The screen itself runs at 60Hz, which is perfectly adequate for everyday use but noticeably less fluid than the 120Hz ProMotion display on the iPhone 17.
Where the iPhone 17e still falls short
The single 48MP rear camera is the most obvious compromise. There is no ultrawide lens and no macro capability, which puts the iPhone 17e behind the Pixel 10a’s camera versatility for anyone who shoots a variety of subjects. Portrait improvements are real — better segmentation, more natural bokeh, and improved focus and depth control — but a single-camera setup in 2025 is a limitation that no software processing fully overcomes. The 12MP TrueDepth front camera handles selfies competently, but the rear camera story is simply less flexible than what Android rivals offer at this price.
Charging speed is another sticking point. The iPhone 17e tops out at 20W wired, while the Pixel 10a supports 30W. That gap matters when you are topping up before leaving the house. The 60Hz display will not bother most users, but anyone stepping down from a recent Android flagship or the iPhone 17 will feel the difference in scrolling smoothness. These are not dealbreakers, but they are the reasons the iPhone 17e is a budget phone rather than a flagship one.
iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: which budget phone wins?
The iPhone 17e and Pixel 10a are the two most interesting sub-$600 smartphones right now, and the honest answer is that neither dominates cleanly. The iPhone 17e wins on raw performance — the A19 chip versus the Pixel 10a’s Tensor G4 is not a close contest in benchmarks. It also wins on MagSafe ecosystem integration, which Android broadly lacks in the same form, and on single-camera photo quality, particularly for portraits.
The Pixel 10a fights back on value. It comes in under $500, offers an ultrawide camera the iPhone 17e does not have, charges faster at 30W, and promises seven years of software support compared to the iPhone 17e’s approximately six. For buyers who prioritise camera versatility, charging speed, and long-term software commitment, the Pixel 10a makes a strong case. The Samsung Galaxy A56 is also worth considering in this price bracket for Android buyers who want comparable features and performance.
The iPhone 17e also sits below the iPhone 17 in Apple’s own lineup, and that comparison is worth making honestly. The iPhone 17 offers 120Hz ProMotion, a more capable camera system, and additional features for roughly $200 more — and it is sometimes discounted. If the budget stretches, the iPhone 17 delivers meaningfully more.
Is the iPhone 17e worth buying in 2025?
For iPhone users on older handsets looking for a sensible upgrade without flagship pricing, the iPhone 17e is the clearest recommendation Apple has offered at this tier in years. The A19 chip, MagSafe, and doubled storage address the three biggest complaints about the iPhone 16e in one go. Apple Intelligence features are still catching up to what Google offers on Pixel — current Apple Intelligence capabilities lag behind the Pixel 10a’s software experience — but iOS 27 is expected to close that gap with further updates.
Does the iPhone 17e have MagSafe?
Yes, the iPhone 17e supports MagSafe wireless charging, which is a new addition compared to the iPhone 16e. This enables magnetic accessories including stands, car mounts, and battery packs, and improves both alignment and charging efficiency over standard Qi charging.
How does the iPhone 17e camera compare to the Pixel 10a?
The iPhone 17e has a single 48MP rear camera with no ultrawide or macro lens, while the Pixel 10a includes an ultrawide camera. The iPhone 17e produces strong portrait results with improved segmentation and natural bokeh, but the Pixel 10a offers more shooting versatility overall.
How long will the iPhone 17e receive software updates?
Apple is expected to support the iPhone 17e with approximately six years of software updates, including iOS 27 and future Apple Intelligence features. The Pixel 10a offers seven years of software support by comparison.
The iPhone 17e is not the most exciting phone Apple has ever made, but it is the most honest budget iPhone in years. It fixes real problems, adds MagSafe to a tier that lacked it, and delivers A19 performance that will age well — all at $599. If you are upgrading from an older iPhone and do not want to spend flagship money, this is where to land.
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: Tom's Guide
