IPhone 17e: 6 Reasons To Buy And 3 Reasons To Skip

New Delhi: The iPhone 17e is finally here with a starting price of $599. That price has surprised many people. It is not exactly cheap, especially when the iPhone 17 costs only about $200 more. So, is the iPhone 17e worth your money? Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s good and what’s not so great.

What are the reasons to buy?

Double Storage at the Same Price: This is one of the best upgrades. Apple has doubled the base storage without increasing the price. Earlier, you had to pay $699 for 256GB on the older model. Now, you get 256GB for $599. If you often run out of storage on a 128GB phone, this is a big relief. It’s rare to see a company offer more storage without charging extra.

MagSafe Finally Included: The iPhone 17e now supports MagSafe magnetic charging. That means:

• Faster wireless charging (up to 15W)
• Better alignment while charging
• Less heat during charging
• Support for magnetic accessories like stands and wallets

It also supports Qi2 charging at 15W. This gives you more charger options beyond Apple-certified ones.

New Pink Colour Option: Earlier budget iPhones mostly came in black or white. Now, the iPhone 17e is available in light pink. It may sound small, but many users like having more colour choices without needing a case.

Powerful A19 Chip: The iPhone 17e comes with the new A19 chip, the same one used in the iPhone 17. That means strong performance for gaming, apps and multitasking. On paper, it should perform almost as well as the iPhone 17.

Stronger Display Glass: The phone features Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2 glass. Apple claims it is three times more scratch-resistant than the earlier version. Durability tests suggest the screen handles scratches better than most phones. While a screen protector is still a good idea, the display is tougher than before.

Reliable Overall Package: The iPhone 17e may not be flashy, but it offers:

• Strong performance
• More storage
• Better charging
• Improved durability

For someone who wants a simple and powerful iPhone without paying flagship prices, it can make sense.

What are the reasons to skip?

$599 Is Still Expensive: $599 is not exactly budget pricing. For $200 more, you can buy the iPhone 17, which offers more features. Also, many mid-range Android phones cost under $500 and offer similar performance. So value for money is debatable.

Only One Rear Camera: Most phones at this price offer multiple cameras. The iPhone 17e has:

• One 48MP rear camera
• One 12MP front camera

There is 2x zoom support, but no ultrawide or macro camera. Camera upgrades also seem minimal compared to last year.

Not Many Big Changes: While the new chip, MagSafe and stronger glass are welcome upgrades, the overall phone feels very similar to the previous model. If you already own the older version, upgrading may not feel necessary. Also, if the previous model drops in price, it might offer better value.