On March 2nd, Apple announced the latest addition to its budget phone lineup: the iPhone 17e. The device has a familiar look, but it actually holds some very appealing surprises.
Introducing the iPhone 17e
Inner strength
Visually, the iPhone 17e isn't really that different – it uses the same design as its predecessor. Yes, that means it has a notch instead of Apple's Dynamic Island . This is one of the most disappointing aspects of the phone, but it wouldn't be the deciding factor in whether or not to buy it.
Another disappointing aspect is the display itself. The screen is reasonably sized and sharp, at 6.1 inches with a pixel density of 460 PPI. However, it still only has a 60Hz refresh rate, which seems a bit disappointing in 2026. Even the basic iPhone 17 model has been upgraded to 120Hz this year.
However, ultimately, the most important thing about the iPhone 17e is its internal configuration. It features Apple's A19 chip – the same chip as the "regular" iPhone 17 (technically, it only has a quad-core GPU instead of the iPhone 17's five-core GPU, but it's still quite similar). In practice, this means the device has superior performance, on par with the main product line. It also incorporates many useful hidden features similar to its larger counterparts.
Surprising storage capacity
Apple isn't usually known for its storage capacity, but the iPhone 17e delivers a big surprise in this regard – Apple not only doubled the base storage from 128GB to 256GB, but kept the price the same.
In an era of widespread price increases – which are often nothing new to prove – this is a significant step that makes the iPhone 17e offer considerably better value than its predecessor. It also makes the device a strong competitor to popular budget Android phones.
Comparing iPhone 17e and Pixel 10a
Who is the current king in terms of value?
The main competitor of the iPhone 17e is the Pixel 10a. Both phones offer the experience of their respective flagship products, but without the premium price tag. Here's a comparison between the two devices:
- Price and storage : The iPhone 17e starts at $599 for the base 256GB version. The base Pixel 10a starts at $499 for the 128GB version, but you can upgrade to 256GB for $599. Some might want to save a little by choosing lower storage, but we'll consider this a fair exchange.
- Performance : This is even beyond question – the iPhone's A19 chip is far superior to the Pixel's Tensor G4. In everyday tasks, the Pixel performs well, but in situations like high-end gaming, heavy video editing, or photo processing, the iPhone will likely provide a much better experience.
- Camera : Pixels are known for their excellent still photography capabilities, and the Pixel 10a also features an ultra-wide-angle lens. The iPhone 17e only has a single 48MP lens, so it might be less versatile, but iPhones often lead in video recording. Overall, we could say that more lenses are better, simply for the sake of versatility, but if you're primarily focused on video recording, you might prefer the iPhone.
- Display : The iPhone's screen is excellent, but there are two weaknesses to note – the outdated notch and the 60Hz refresh rate. Apple didn't equip the iPhone 17e with Dynamic Island, so the phone looks rather outdated. And the lack of a high refresh rate also makes it feel outdated. The Pixel 10a (and most other phones in this price range) have a higher refresh rate. The 120Hz screen feels much smoother. The Pixel is also significantly brighter in sunlight, with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits compared to the iPhone 17e's 1,200 nits.
Ultimately, choosing between these two devices will depend on whether you prioritize internal or external specifications. iPhones lead in storage capacity and processing power, and offer better video recording, but the Pixel has a better screen and an ultra-wide-angle camera.
Of course, the operating system is also very important, but in experience, the gap between Android and iOS has narrowed considerably. And with Apple researching RCS encryption on Android phones, the barrier to this has been significantly reduced. Switch now, more than ever.
The iPhone 17e is available for pre-order starting March 4th and will officially go on sale on March 11th.