Where the reviewers agree
- MagSafe support is newly added, a clear upgrade over the iPhone 16e. — Tom's Guide, The Verge, Tech Advisor, Wired, The Guardian, CNET, SmartWorld, PCMag, Trusted Reviews
- The A19 chip delivers strong performance, with reviewers calling it fast for the price. — Tom's Guide, Tech Advisor, Wired, The Guardian, CNET, SmartWorld, Phonandroid, PCMag, Trusted Reviews
- Base storage doubles to 256GB at the same price. — Tom's Guide, The Verge, Wired, The Guardian, CNET, SmartWorld, Phonandroid, PCMag, Trusted Reviews
- The 60Hz display is a drawback, with reviewers noting it feels less smooth than rivals. — Tom's Guide, The Verge, Tech Advisor, Wired, The Guardian, CNET, Tweakers, SmartWorld, Phonandroid, PCMag, Trusted Reviews
Where they disagree
- Battery life is praised as strong by Tech Advisor, Wired, The Guardian, CNET, and SmartWorld, while PCMag says it trails the iPhone 17. — Tech Advisor, Wired, The Guardian, CNET, SmartWorld, PCMag
- Value is judged differently: CNET (8.6/10) and Tom's Guide see a strong budget buy, while Wired calls it still overpriced and SmartWorld says the price stays high. — CNET, Tom's Guide, Wired, SmartWorld
- Camera quality is viewed differently: CNET and Trusted Reviews praise the single-camera results, while Tweakers says the camera is weak in low light and Wired reports weaker low-light performance. — CNET, Trusted Reviews, Tweakers, Wired
Bottom line: Suits buyers who want the cheapest new iPhone with MagSafe, fast performance and 256GB storage. The trade-offs are a 60Hz screen, a single rear camera, and a design close to the iPhone 16e. Reviewers generally say the iPhone 17 is the better phone for those…
Summarised with AI from the 11 reviews below — each one is linked in full.
What the reviewers said
Phonandroid FR
No scoreApr 11, 2026A solid, compact iPhone with strong performance and audio, but its budget positioning limits it: basic 60Hz screen, single camera, small battery, and weaker connectivity. Sometimes less compelling than the…
- Compact size, easy one-handed use
- Strong A19 performance for its price
- Doubled base storage at the same price
- Improved anti-reflective coating and Ceramic Shield 2
- Good speakers with rich bass
- 60Hz non-LTPO screen, peak brightness limited
- Single rear camera, no macro, limited zoom
- Small battery
- Less varied connectivity than other iPhones
- Visually almost identical to iPhone 16e
Tweakers NL
No scoreApr 7, 2026The iPhone 17e is a costly budget iPhone with many compromises, especially its 60Hz screen. Its software support and iOS experience are its main draws, but the reviewer finds it…
- Compact size and light weight
- Long software support and polished iOS experience
- Daytime camera performs reasonably well
- IP68 dust and water resistance
- Good colour accuracy in display tests
- 60Hz screen feels stuttery compared to rivals
- Low peak brightness on the display
- Single rear camera with no zoom or ultrawide
- Camera weak in low light
- Dated iPhone 14-based design with thick bezels and notch
SmartWorld IT
7.5/10Mar 23, 2026The best iPhone for buyers who simply want an iPhone, with a cheaper price than the iPhone 17 and strong battery life, though the price stays high and the camera…
- Compact, well-built aluminum body with IP68 rating
- A19 chip performance at the top of its class
- Excellent battery life, more than a day
- Strong video recording, 4K at 60fps
- Doubled base storage to 256GB at same price
- 60 Hz display refresh rate
- Slow wired charging capped at 20W
- No ultrawide or telephoto camera
- Price is high for an entry-level iPhone
- No always-on display support
The Guardian UK
No scoreMar 23, 2026Apple's cheapest iPhone gains a faster chip, more storage and MagSafe, but the single camera and dated design limit it. Best for buyers wanting the lowest-cost new iPhone.
- Fast A19 chip handles demanding games easily
- Long battery life, about 52 hours between charges
- 256GB base storage is generous
- Ceramic Shield 2 glass with effective anti-glare
- MagSafe, Face ID and USB-C included
- Single rear camera with no ultrawide or telephoto
- No macro mode and no camera control button
- Older iPhone 14-like design with large notch
- Slower, less smooth 6.1in OLED screen
- Lacks Wi-Fi 7, Thread and UWB
Trusted Reviews UK
4/5Mar 18, 2026A very good, fast iPhone with MagSafe and 256GB base storage, but the iPhone 17 is better overall for those who can afford it.
- 256GB starting storage at the same price as before
- A19 chip is very fast for the price
- MagSafe support added over the 16e
- Ceramic Shield 2 front coating improves scratch resistance
- Strong video recording and good single-camera photos
- Single rear camera is restrictive with no telephoto or ultrawide
- Locked 60Hz display with no Always-on Display
- Dimmer maximum brightness than the iPhone 17
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 only, no UWB
- Notch display rather than Dynamic Island
CNET US
8.6/10Mar 16, 2026A well-built budget iPhone that borrows many iPhone 17 features, with MagSafe, 256GB base storage and a pink option, though compromises include a 60Hz display and no Cinematic mode.
- Premium look and feel with matte glass and aluminum frame
- Solid single 48MP camera with good 2x telephoto
- MagSafe and Qi2 support, up to 15W wireless
- 256GB base storage at $599
- A19 chip and all-day battery life
- Thick bezels and notch instead of Dynamic Island
- Fixed 60Hz display with no always-on display
- No ultrawide camera or Cinematic video
- Lower peak HDR brightness than iPhone 17
- Smaller display may feel cramped for some
Tech Advisor UK
4/5Mar 11, 2026A strong entry-level iPhone with great performance, long battery life, a capable single rear camera and a compact premium design. The 60Hz display, slower charging and missing Camera Control are…
- Lovely, compact and lightweight design
- Great performance from the A19 chip
- Brilliant battery life
- MagSafe now included
- Good single rear camera results
- 60Hz display feels less smooth than rivals
- Charging tops out at 20W wired
- No Camera Control button
- Front camera lacks iPhone 17 tricks
- Single rear camera, no ultrawide
Tom's Guide US
4/5Mar 9, 2026The iPhone 17e fixes many of the 16e's shortcomings with MagSafe, A19 performance and 256GB storage at the same price, though the single camera and 60Hz display remain drawbacks.
- Finally adds MagSafe support
- Strong A19 chip performance
- 256GB starting storage at same price
- Excellent portrait mode edge detection
- Ceramic Shield 2 improves scratch resistance
- Still only a single rear camera
- Still stuck with 60Hz refresh rate
- Few camera upgrades over iPhone 16e
- Peak brightness slightly lower than predecessor
Still overpriced, with a single rear camera and 60 Hz screen, but a solid, better-equipped entry-level iPhone with MagSafe and reliable battery life.
- Strong performance with A19 chip for everyday and demanding games
- Reliable day-long battery life
- MagSafe now included, opening up accessory ecosystem
- Ceramic Shield 2 display is more durable
- Base storage starts at 256 GB
- Screen stuck at 60 Hz refresh rate
- No ultra-wideband chip for precise AirTag finding
- Single rear camera is limiting; no ultrawide or telephoto
- Weaker low-light performance with motion blur in Night mode
- Still overpriced compared to competitors like Pixel 10a
PCMag US
4/5Editors' Choice (awarded to iPhone 17, not the 17e)Mar 9, 2026An excellent budget iPhone upgrade over the 16e, with a faster chip, MagSafe and double storage at the same price, though the display and battery lag the iPhone 17.
- Faster A19 chip, matching the iPhone 17 in most tests
- MagSafe charging added at the same price
- Base storage doubled to 256GB
- Compact, well-built design with IP68 rating
- Ceramic Shield 2 cover glass with better scratch resistance
- Display is 60Hz with no Always-On and more glare
- Battery life trails the iPhone 17
- Design is nearly identical to the iPhone 16e
- Only one rear camera lens
- eSIM-only in the US
The Verge US
7/10Mar 9, 2026The iPhone 17E is a better value than the 16E and finally a viable minimum iPhone, but the regular iPhone 17 is worth the extra $200 for most people.
- Adds MagSafe support
- Base storage doubled to 256GB at same price
- Basically the same processor as iPhone 17
- Battery life looks solid in early use
- Strong C1X modem connection performance
- No always-on display
- Screen limited to 60Hz
- Single rear camera, no ultrawide
- No upgraded selfie camera
- Main camera sensor smaller than iPhone 17's
Verdicts, pros and cons are short summaries in our words of each publisher's review; scores are as the publisher gave them. Specs are taken from the reviews' spec boxes — where they differ, we show the value most of them give; price is the US launch price of the base model. Read the originals for the full picture.
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