Contents Overview Compare Specifications: Our Selections Compared Pricing: A Notable Variation Design: Identical Except for Color Options Display: One Offers Greater Clarity, Smoothness, and Always-On Features Cameras: Spending More Provides Enhanced Versatility Battery Life: Both Perform Well, Yet One Excels Processor and Storage: Nearly Equal Connectivity: Enhancements All Around AI Capabilities: Identical Intelligence, Similar Skills Conclusion: Which iPhone 17 Suits You Best?
Cost: A Notable Distinction
Pricing Comparison
Clearly, the most significant distinction between the two models is their pricing: The iPhone 17 begins at $799 and can reach up to $999, whereas the iPhone 17e starts at $599 and peaks at $799, depending on the storage option you select. If you’re aiming to cut costs, the decision is straightforward.
Champion: iPhone 17e
Style: Identical, Just Different Hues
Design Features
Without considering the number of cameras, distinguishing between the iPhone 17 and the 17e at first glance would be quite challenging. They are almost the same in dimensions and weight, with the 17e being merely a tenth of an inch shorter and a third of an ounce lighter. Both models feature aluminum bodies with Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and boast an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, allowing them to endure submersion in up to 20 feet of water for as long as 30 minutes.
Both devices are offered in black or white. Additionally, the iPhone 17e is available in pink, whereas the iPhone 17 can be found in blue, green, or lavender.
Champion: Draw
Camera Capabilities
Showcase: The iPhone 17e is More Refined, Sleeker, and Perpetually Active
The display is often one of the initial components to be downgraded when producing a more affordable phone model, and this is true for the iPhone 17e. Its 6.1-inch screen is a Super Retina XDR display, similar to the 6.3-inch screen of the iPhone 17. Both screens offer the same P3 wide color gamut and a sharpness of 460 pixels per inch.
In contrast to the premium model, the 17e’s display isn’t perpetually active, and it lacks a variable refresh rate that goes up to 120Hz; it is fixed at 60Hz, resulting in less fluid scrolling. Additionally, it has a lower brightness of 800 nits in most scenarios, reaching 1,200 nits with HDR content, and it does not feature a brighter outdoor mode, unlike the iPhone 17, which offers 1,000 nits under normal conditions, 1,600 nits with HDR, and can achieve up to 3,000 nits in outdoor settings.
Battery Performance
Champion: iPhone 17e
Camera Quality: Investing More Provides Greater Versatility
When it comes to budget-friendly smartphones, the display is often the first area where compromises are made, and the cameras follow closely behind. The iPhone 17e features one less camera compared to the iPhone 17, omitting the 48MP ultra-wide rear camera. Additionally, it does not offer macro photography capabilities, cannot capture spatial photos for the Apple Vision Pro, and is missing the Dolby Vision video options found in the iPhone 17. However, it retains the same 48MP main rear camera with 2x optical zoom, at least.
The front-facing camera has been reduced from an 18MP Center Stage camera featuring dual capture and automatic digital pan and zoom to a 12MP TrueDepth camera similar to that found on the iPhone 16.
Champion: iPhone 17e
Battery Performance: Both Are Adequate, Yet One Outshines the Other
Although Apple tends to be optimistic with its battery life claims, its devices generally perform exceptionally well in terms of longevity. The iPhone 17 is advertised to provide up to 27 hours of video streaming, but our testing revealed it actually lasted 24 hours and 31 minutes, which is still quite impressive.
AI Capabilities: Identical Intelligence, Equivalent Insight
Apple Intelligence, the collection of AI capabilities offered by Apple across its various platforms and services, is now accessible on both the iPhone 17e and 17. This is logical, as both devices are powered by the A19 chip, which features a specialized 16-core Neural Engine designed to support these AI functionalities.
Champion: Draw
Conclusion: Which iPhone 17 Model Suits Your Needs Best?
While we still have to evaluate the iPhone 17e, it’s clear that the iPhone 17 stands out as the more attractive option regarding features. It offers superior network performance, enhanced camera quality, a brighter and smoother display, and likely a more durable battery. Additionally, it comes with a price tag that is $200 higher, which could be the most significant factor in your purchasing decision.
The positive aspect is that the iPhone 17 and 17e are not the only models available in this generation. This lineup also features the sleeker iPhone Air and the more robust iPhone 17 Pro, along with the larger iPhone 17 Pro Max.
We are excited to test the iPhone 17e shortly (launching on March 11), so make sure to return for our comprehensive review and conclusive purchasing recommendations.
