Apple announces the $600 iPhone 17e to be its new budget phone

Apple launched its long-awaited and speculated-about budget iPhone: the iPhone 17e. The company confirmed on Monday that preorders for its newest entry-level smartphone will open on Wednesday, March 4, with pricing starting at $599. The launch coincides with the introduction of a new M4 iPad Air.

The announcement comes during a busy stretch for the company. Last Friday, Tim Cook said Apple would begin unveiling new products this week in the lead-up to its Apple event on Wednesday. In recent days, speculation has included talk of a lower-cost MacBook, potentially featuring a touchscreen, along with refreshed iPad and iPhone models.

Apple’s press release states that the iPhone 17e runs on the A19 chipset, the same processor used in the base iPhone 17. The device also introduces the C1X, Apple’s latest in-house 5G modem. According to the company, the C1X delivers double the speed of the C1 modem found in the iPhone 16e.

Compared with its predecessor, the iPhone 17e also features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display. It is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple claims offers three times the scratch resistance of the material used on the iPhone 16e.

Although the iPhone 17e includes a single rear lens, it leverages Apple’s 2-in-1 camera system. The setup combines a 48P wide-angle camera with a telephoto Fusion capability, effectively delivering two focal options within one system.

Storage also sees a significant boost. The base configuration now starts at 256GB, doubling the entry-level capacity offered by the previous model.

For the first time in Apple’s budget smartphone lineup, MagSafe support is included. This addition allows the iPhone 17e to work with Apple’s full range of MagSafe accessories, including magnetic chargers and other compatible peripherals.

Given that the device shares many core features with the iPhone 17, demand for the more affordable model is expected to be strong.

The iPhone 17e starts at $599, $200 less than the base iPhone 17 with an equivalent chipset and storage. Buyers can choose from three colors: White, Black, or Soft Pink.

Preorders begin Wednesday, March 4, likely immediately after the Apple event concludes. The phone is scheduled to go on sale one week later, on Wednesday, March 11. But it’s uncertain when it will reach Middle East markets as the situation in Hormuz continues to unfold.