Apple unveils new addition to iPhone 17 range with affordable price tag, double the storage, and camera boost

It starts from £599, it's £200 cheaper than the entry-level iPhone 17, despite sharing a number of the same tricks. With the arrival of the iPhone 17e, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 16e from its lineup, so if you were hoping to snag the year-old handset at a discounted price — you're out of luck.

iPhone 17e is available to preorder now, with the first smartphones shipping out to customers on March 11. That's also when you'll be able to head into your nearest Apple Store to try the latest iPhone in-person.

Powering the iPhone 17e is the A19 system-on-a-chip, the same brains found inside the iPhone 17, so you can expect the same performance when multitasking between apps, playing the latest console-quality games, or editing high-resolution photographs or 4K Dolby Vision HDR video.

Apple has paired that chipset with the C1X, the custom-designed modem that made its debut with the £999 iPhone Air last September. That promises to unlock 2x faster data speeds compared to the first-generation Apple-designed modem that launched with the iPhone 16e. It's not just about speedy performance, the C1X uses 30% less energy than the modem in iPhone 16 Pro, which helps ensure all-day battery life in the affordable new iPhone 17e.

When it's time to top up the battery, iPhone 17e supports wired fast-charging via USB-C. Just 30-minutes plugged into the mains will refill 50% of its total capacity. Unlike the handset that it replaces in the lineup, iPhone 17e supports MagSafe — a ring of magnets inside the case that lets you snap wireless chargers, car mounts, stands, and a slew of other popular accessories to the back of your iPhone — for faster Qi2 charging speeds up to 15W.

Elsewhere, the edge-to-edge 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, a new generation of strengthened glass that made its debut with the pricier iPhone 17 lineup. Ceramic Shield 2 offers 3x better protection against scratches and scuffs, so you shouldn't have to worry about applying a screen protector to your new handset.

While there's still only a single camera on the back of the iPhone 17e, Apple has upgraded the hardware to its 48MP Fusion Camera system, so you'll be able to capture next-generation portraits and 4K Dolby Vision video. It also supports optical-quality 2x zoom – something that used to be possible on iPhone models with at least two lenses.

If you're stranded without signal or Wi-Fi, iPhone 17e supports the full gamut of Apple's satellite-powered safety features, including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via Satellite, so you'll be able to keep friends and family in the loop about your movements or contact the emergency services.

Apple Vice President of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, Kaiann Drance, said: "iPhone 17e combines powerful performance and features our users love at an exceptional value, making it a compelling option for customers looking to upgrade to the iPhone 17 family.

"We know our customers want a product that will last, and iPhone 17e delivers just that. With A19 for incredible performance, double the entry storage, a smarter camera system, and enhanced durability, iPhone 17e is designed to stay fast, secure, and valuable for years to come."