What are the "pros and cons" of the iPhone 17e? Is it a good value?

Of course, only you can decide if the iPhone 17e is a good value for you, but the below is our objective pros and cons devoid of any fluff from a company's marketing department.

EveryiPhone.com also provides an in-depth iPhone 17e evaluation that can be ideal for those who prefer details. For those who prefer a quick-to-read summary, though, the following should be right up your alley.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 17e)

iPhone 17e Pros:

• The cheapest new iPhone available at the time it was released.
• Fast; nearly identical performance to the more expensive iPhone 17.
• Excellent battery life (but not as good as the iPhone 17).
• 5G networking capability.
• Respectable single lens rear camera.
• Waterproof to six meters for up to 30 minutes (IP68).
• MagSafe wireless charging capability.
• Industry-standard USB-C port.
• Complete support for iOS 26, the current version of the iOS, including the Apple Intelligence feature.

iPhone 17e Cons:

• "Notch" at top of display is dated compared to other contemporary models with "Dynamic Island" functionality and the display is relatively low quality, as well (it is the display from the iPhone 14).
• Low quality cameras -- front and back -- compared to more expensive iPhone models.
• Glass front and back are fragile compared to many kinds of metal, plastic, or other materials.
• No physical Nano SIM on models sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and a handful of other countries in the Middle East.
• MagSafe is limited to 15W (iPhone 17 is 25W).
• 5G networking does not support mmWave even in the US.
• Support for older Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 standards.
• No support for Ultrawide Band or Thread Networking.
• Only available in white, black, and "Soft Pink" color choices.

So, should I buy an iPhone 17e? Is it a good deal?

Compared to the more expensive iPhone 17, the iPhone 17e practically is the same speed and costs US$200 less.

The iPhone 17 has a better (and slightly bigger) display; better cameras; an extra GPU core; better cellular, Wi-Fi, and charging capabilities; better battery life; and more. It definitely provides a lot of extra value for the extra cash.

Accordingly, it is without a doubt that the iPhone 17 is a better device -- and for some users the better screen or better cameras alone are well worth the extra money -- but if you don't mind the dated design, you're on a budget, and you want a fast, capable iPhone, the iPhone 17e could be a good value for you.

Of course, if price is your primary concern, there are any number of other used iPhone models that still have plenty of life left -- many of which have better cameras, as well -- and that are available at lower prices. Personally, if you're on a tight budget, we would just about always recommend going used to save a bit more over a new, but entry-level model.

In the US, site sponsor Other World Computing sells used and refurbished iPhone models with free shipping. On the other hand, if you need to sell an iPhone, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older iPhone with an instant quote and prompt payment.

Please also see EveryiPhone.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPhone model to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad.