The new budget-friendly iPhone 17e has been unveiled, and it’s cheaper than the standard iPhone 17. With a new launch, the question emerges: Is it better than the others or not? Another question is whether it’s cheaper than the other; there must be some shortcomings. If there are, what are they? If not, which one is better in the iPhone 17e vs the standard iPhone 17? Let’s compare and discuss.
iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 Features That Are the Same
Despite the price difference, the iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 have some features in common, including the A19 chip, which is Apple’s latest generation processor. Notably, the 17e model has one less GPU core. Despite that, the performance is likely to be on the same level.
Another similarity is the Ceramic Shield 2 on the display. It provides the best scratch resistance in Apple smartphones. Storage is another common ground for these, as both have a base storage of 256 GB.
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Additionally, MagSafe is included in both, and they have the same aesthetics of an aluminum casing with a glass back and front, but that’s where the similarities end.
Biggest iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17 Differences
Despite a few similarities, the iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 are quite different phones based on their specifications and features. Here’s a rough table for a sneak peek into the specifications of these two smartphones: –
| Feature | iPhone 17e | iPhone 17 |
| Starting Price | ₹64,900 | ₹82,900 |
| Dimensions | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches | 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches |
| Weight | 5.96 ounces | 6.24 ounces |
| Display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR |
| Resolution | 2,532 x 1,170 (460 ppi) | 2,622 x 1,206 (460 ppi) |
| Processor | A19 (4-core GPU) | A19 (5-core GPU) |
| Storage Options | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB |
| Rear Cameras | 48MP Fusion | 48MP Fusion, 48MP Ultra Wide, Camera Control |
| Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth, Autofocus | 18MP Center Stage, Autofocus |
| Video Features | 4K 60fps (HDR w/ Dolby Vision), 1080p Slo-Mo, OIS | Spatial & Macro Video, Action/Cinematic Mode, Sensor-shift OIS, Dual Capture |
| Connectivity | 5G (Sub-6GHz), USB-C (USB 2), etc | 5G (mmWave), USB-C (USB 2), etc |
| Battery (Video) | Up to 26 hours | Up to 30 hours |
| Charging | MagSafe 15W | MagSafe 25W, Qi2 15W |
| Biometrics | Face ID | Face ID |
| Side Controls | Action Button | Action Button |
| Colors | Black, White, Soft Pink | Black, White, Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage |
Physical Dimensions and Display
There’s a significant difference between the two in terms of physical dimensions. Starting with the size, the iPhone 17 is marginally bigger. It has a height of 5.89 inches, whereas the iPhone 17e is 5.78 inches. It is also 0.01 inches narrower than the e-model, which is 2.82 inches.
Although they have the same thickness of 0.31 inches, the weighs differently, with the standard 17 being heavier (6.24 ounces) and the 17e being lighter (5.96 ounces).
The iPhone 17e features the same Super Retina XDR display as the iPhone 16e. It has 6.1 inch screen along with an OLED panel (2,532 by 1,170 resolution and 460 pixels per inch pixel density).
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On the other hand, the iPhone 17 has a larger 6.3-inch display. It also has higher resolutions of 2,622 by 1,206, but the pixel density is only 460ppi.
iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 Color and Pricing
There’s an obvious difference in the iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 color options. The 17e comes in Soft Pink, Black, and White, whereas the other comes in Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, Black, and White.
On price point, the iPhone 17e is ₹18,000 cheaper than the standard iPhone 17 model. Here’s the breakdown: –
| Storage Variant | iPhone 17e Price | iPhone 17 Price | Price Difference |
| 256 GB | ₹64,900 | ₹82,900 | ₹18,000 |
| 512 GB | ₹84,900 | ₹102,900 | ₹19,000 |
Camera Setup
The iPhone 17e is carrying the same camera system, i.e, single rear camera, as the iPhone 16e, which gives it its unique look. Experts note that the rear is a 48-megapixel Fusion camera with Hybrid Focus Pixels.
It has features like a 10x digital zoom, optical image stabilization, Photonic Engine, and Deep Fusion computational photography, Smart HDR 5, Portrait Lighting, and Night Mode.
iPhone 17, on the other hand, features a dual (48MP Main + 48MP Ultra Wide) camera, with Ultra Wide Lens, Macro Photography, spatial Photos, and multiple optical-quality.
At the front of the iPhone 17e is the 12MP TrueDepth camera with depth mapping and Face ID. Additional features include Deep Fusion and the Photonic Engine, Portrait Mode with Portrait Lighting and Photographic Styles, Night Mode, and automatic image stabilization capabilities.
It has the capacity to handle 4K video at 60fps with Dolby Vision, 4K Cinematic Video Stabilization, and 1080p 120fps Slo-mo. On the other hand, the iPhone 17 uses an 18MP Centre Stage front camera for 18MP shots.
Its square lens equips it to automatically rotate from portrait to landscape without the physical rotation of the phone. Another great feature is the Centre Stage element, which reframes the shot or video on FaceTime calls.
It also features a Dual Capture mode, in which the user can capture shots from the front and back cameras at the same time.
| Feature | iPhone 17e | iPhone 17 |
| Rear Camera System | Single 48MP Fusion | Dual 48MP Fusion + 48MP Ultra Wide |
| Main Sensor Stabilization | Standard Optical (OIS) | Sensor-shift OIS (Superior stability) |
| Ultra Wide / Macro | No | Yes (48MP Ultra Wide + Macro mode) |
| Telephoto Simulation | 2x “Optical-quality” (12MP Crop) | 2x “Optical-quality” (12MP Crop) |
| Front Selfie Camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 18MP Center Stage (Square Sensor) |
| Selfie “Magic” | Standard 4K/60 fps | Auto-Rotate (Portrait/Landscape without moving phone) |
| Action Mode (Video) | No | Yes (2.8K at 60 fps) |
| Cinematic Mode | No | Yes (4K at 30 fps) |
| Spatial Video | No | Yes (1080p at 30 fps) |
| Dual Capture Mode | No | Yes (Record front & back cameras simultaneously) |
Processing and Performance
As mentioned above, the iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 both carry the A19 chip, which means their performance is on a similar level. However, it is not identical.
The iPhone 17 has a five-core GPU in its A19 chip, whereas the iPhone 17e’s A19 has a four-core GPU. This difference will impact the graphical performance.
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Power, Battery, and Connectivity
iPhone 17 leads in battery capacity, as it can last 30 hours of video playback, whereas the iPhone 17e only lasts 26 hours. Although both support MagSafe, iPhone 17 manages a higher 25W wireless charging, but iPhone 17e supports only up to 12W.
The iPhone 17 gets faster charging with its 40W adapter. It can get to 50% charge in just 20 minutes, whereas the iPhone 17e takes 30 minutes with 20W charges.
In terms of physical connectivity, both support USB-C. They are also supporting USB 2 speeds, or 480Mb/s data transfers, making them equally good.
However, the iPhone 17e gets ahead in cellular connectivity parameters as it uses the Apple-designed C1X modem, allowing it to connect to 5G networks with 4×4 MIMO using sub-6GHz bands.
Note that it cannot do the mmWave, but the iPhone 17 can do that, along with the sub-6GHz 5G.
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: Which to Buy and Why?
There’s a significant price difference between the iPhone 17e and the iPhone 17. However, despite that, experts suggest the iPhone 17 with 256 storage due to the better performance, camera, battery, mmWave 5G support, AI performance, and more.
Although many acknowledge the ₹18,000 price difference, they believe that the extra features are worth spending that. The rest depends on the buyers’ demand and budget.