{"id":285479,"date":"2026-02-07T09:51:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T09:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/285479\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T09:51:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T09:51:12","slug":"5-reasons-to-buy-the-iphone-17e-and-3-reasons-to-skip-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/285479\/","title":{"rendered":"5 reasons to buy the iPhone 17e and 3 reasons to skip it"},"content":{"rendered":"

All of the iPhone 17e<\/a> rumors hint that Apple might release its budget model sooner than you think. In fact, we could see it arrive in a matter of weeks, with February 19<\/a> as a potential launch date for this best iPhone<\/a> contender. But at the same time, it makes me wonder if it\u2019s worth the upgrade.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because in my iPhone 16e review<\/a>, I mentioned how it comes with certain trade-offs that are dealbreakers for some people. With these rumored upgrades, though, I\u2019m crossing my fingers that they\u2019re enough to convince people to choose it over other phones \u2014 including the rumored Pixel 10a<\/a> expected to launch at around the same time, as well as the current iPhone 17<\/a> that I love. Here are all the reasons I think you should buy the iPhone 17e, along with a few reasons to skip it entirely.<\/p>\n

iPhone 17e: Reasons to buyMagSafe wireless charging support<\/p>\n

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\"Iniu\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t stress enough how essential MagSafe support has become. While Apple famously omitted this feature from the iPhone 16e, rumors suggest the iPhone 17e will finally include the necessary hardware for full MagSafe compatibility<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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This is a vital addition for any new iPhone in 2026 \u2014 even an affordable one \u2014 because it allows users to wirelessly charge their devices with ease. Another notable upgrade rumored for the 17e is support for the same 25W MagSafe charging speeds found in the flagship iPhone 17 lineup.<\/p>\n

As someone who relies on various MagSafe accessories<\/a> daily, I\u2019m thrilled that Apple may finally bringing proper magnetic support to its budget iPhone.<\/p>\n

Powerful A19 performanceSwipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0 <\/p>\n

iPhone 16e<\/p>\n

iPhone 17<\/p>\n

Chipset <\/p>\n

Apple A18<\/p>\n

Apple A19<\/p>\n

Geekbench 6 (single-core\/multi-core) <\/p>\n

3,328 \/ 8,132<\/p>\n

3,701 \/ 9,460<\/p>\n

3DMark Wild Life Original Unlimited (score\/fps) <\/p>\n

11,904 \/ 71.27<\/p>\n

21873 \/ 130.97<\/p>\n

Adobe Premiere Rush time to transcode (mins:secs) <\/p>\n

0:21<\/p>\n

0:22<\/p>\n

Since it\u2019s part of the iPhone 17 family, the iPhone 17e will likely be powered by Apple\u2019s A19 chip<\/a> \u2014 which is one of the biggest reasons to buy it. I\u2019m reminded of the outstanding graphics processing performance of the standard iPhone 17, which kept the action in Diablo Immortal fluid even with ray tracing effects enabled.<\/p>\n

The iPhone 17e should benefit greatly from this, as the table above shows how the A19\u2019s GPU delivers more fluid frame rates than the previous-generation A18.<\/p>\n

Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.<\/p>\n

Say goodbye to the notch<\/p>\n

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\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

While the notch never bothered me much in the past, it now looks significantly out of place compared to the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup. That\u2019s why I\u2019m excited about the rumor that the iPhone 17e will switch to the newer Dynamic Island cutout<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This aesthetic change would make the display feel much more seamless \u2014 especially since I\u2019ve found the notch distracting when watching videos in full-screen mode on my iPhone 16e. I really hope this rumor proves true, as some conflicting reports suggest Apple might not change the design at all<\/a>.<\/p>\n

C1X modem<\/p>\n

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\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Apple moved away from Qualcomm<\/a> with the iPhone 16e, opting for its first in-house C1 modem instead of the Qualcomm hardware it had relied on for years. With the iPhone 17e, the device appears set to gain the newer C1X modem<\/a>, which was first introduced with the iPhone Air<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Apple has claimed that the C1X modem is twice as fast as the original C1<\/a>, so I anticipate that the iPhone 17e will see those same benefits. This should result in significantly faster download speeds by \u201cstitching\u201d more cellular signals together.<\/p>\n

At the same time, this newer modem could also inherently improve the iPhone 17e\u2019s battery life thanks to its enhanced power efficiency.<\/p>\n

Wi-Fi 7<\/p>\n

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\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The inclusion of Apple\u2019s C1X modem would also inherently give the iPhone 17e a speed advantage thanks to Wi-Fi 7<\/a> support. This makes the device significantly more future-proof, especially when paired with Wi-Fi 7 routers.<\/p>\n

The main benefit is the ability to connect to multiple bands simultaneously across the 5GHz and 6GHz frequencies. By leveraging this technology, the phone can reduce latency and prevent connection drops \u2014 which is critical for online gaming, where even a momentary lapse in Wi-Fi connectivity can be the difference between winning and losing.<\/p>\n

iPhone 17e: Reasons to skipStuck at 60Hz<\/p>\n

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\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

No other upgrade made me happier about the iPhone 17 than it finally being treated to a 120Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately, this visual improvement might not make its way to the iPhone 17e, as rumors suggest Apple is keeping the screen at 60Hz<\/a> for another year.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been spoiled by 120Hz displays like I have, you know how much of a difference this makes. While I\u2019m confident the phone will offer incredible performance, it simply won\u2019t have that buttery, fluid look that makes 120Hz displays so satisfying to use.<\/p>\n

One rear camera yet again<\/p>\n

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\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be the first to admit that the single 48MP rear camera on the iPhone 16e delivers outstanding results \u2014 something I proved in my 200-photo shootout against the Pixel 9a<\/a>. However, it\u2019s disappointing to think that in 2026, Apple might still release an iPhone with only one camera.<\/p>\n

Leaks suggest Apple is recycling the same hardware as before: a 48MP rear camera and a 12MP selfie snapper. This puts the iPhone 17e at a significant disadvantage, especially since most of the best affordable phones now feature dual-camera setups. However, another rumor hints that the iPhone 17e will get an upgraded 18MP Center Stage camera<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But without an ultrawide lens, the iPhone 17e simply won\u2019t offer the same level of utility as its competitors.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s the iPhone 17 to think about<\/p>\n

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\"Apple\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

If the rumored $599 price for the iPhone 17e holds true, I\u2019d be inclined to skip it in favor of the standard iPhone 17.<\/p>\n

For an extra $200, you get a significantly better value: a 120Hz ProMotion display, a more modern design, a versatile dual-camera system, and double the base storage. I suspect Apple will keep the iPhone 17e at 128GB, which is another compelling reason to consider the step-up model instead.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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\"Google\n<\/p>\n

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