Apple on Monday announced the iPhone 17e, its latest entry-level iPhone, succeeding last year’s iPhone 16e. The new budget-friendly iPhone starts at $599 like its predecessor, but features advance camera system, improved performance, and MagSafe connectivity.

The iPhone 17e is similar in design to the iPhone 16e. It has the Ceramic Shield front cover, featured across the iPhone 17 lineup, which Apple says delivers 3 times better scratch resistance than the previous generation. The smartphone is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, and has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with OLED technology capable of going up to 1200 nits peak HDR brightness.

The smartphone is powered by the A19 chip, which supports Apple Intelligence and advanced AI capabilities. In terms of connectivity, the iPhone 17e features C1X, Apple’s latest-generation cellular modem. The C1X is up to 2 times faster than C1 in iPhone 16e and matches the speed of the iPhone Air. Apple says the C1X uses 30 percent less energy than the modem in the iPhone 16 Pro, which contributes to an “exceptional all-day battery life” for the iPhone 17e.

The base model iPhone 17e has 256GB storage, which is double that of the iPhone 16e. The iPhone 17e supports MagSafe and Qi2 for fast wireless charging up to 15W compared to 7.5W Qi wireless charging on iPhone 16e.

The camera system remains the same as the previous generation, with a 48MP Fusion camera, which enables an optical-quality 2x Telephoto, giving users two cameras in one so they can get closer to the subject and easily frame their shot, according to Apple. The iPhone 17e can record videos in 4K with Dolby Vision up to 60 fps. Videos can also be recorded in Spatial Audio for immersive listening with AirPods or Apple Vision Pro.

The iPhone 17e will be available beginning Wednesday, March 11, in black, white, and soft pink colours in 256GB and 512GB storage capacities.

Image: Apple