March 2 (UPI) — Apple on Monday introduced the iPhone 17e, the budget model in its iPhone lineup, with upgraded cameras, a stronger scratch resistant screen and MagSafe to improve attaching chargers and accessories to the phone.
The 17e will be available in three colors — black, white and pink — for pre-order on Wednesday. It is expected to hit stores on March 11, with a starting price of $599 for the 256GB-storage model, Apple said in a press release.
“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,” Kaianne Drance, vice president of worldwide iPhone product marketing at Apple, said in the release.
“With A19 for incredible performance, double the entry storage, a smarter camera system and enhanced durability, iPhone17e is designed to stay fast, secure and valuable for years to come,” she said.
Apple launched the iPhone 16e just over a year ago in February 2025 as a lower-priced model of the iPhone 16 to replace the SE budget-level iPhone, which had been discontinued after three generations in 2022.
The 17e comes with upgrades over last year’s edition, with a 48MP fusion camera that enables optical-quality 2x telephoto and 4K Dolby Vision video, Apple said.
The new Super Retina XDR screen is said to have 3x stronger scratch resistance and reduced glare, satellite features for satellite communication when off network and Apple has added MagSafe, which allows accessories such as charges, stands and cases to more easily snap onto the back of the phone.
The 17e also includes Apple Intelligence, which is expected to include a new version of the Siri assistant on the phone, and will be powered by Google‘s Gemini AI.
Apple and many phone carriers offering trade-in deals for customers who would like to upgrade, with the oldest models available for trade-in credit starting with the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 13.