iPhone 17e: Bang for Buck?!
David Zhang
Edited by Tyler Malek
Published: March 2nd, 2026
The iPhone 17e will become the cheapest new iPhone on sale at $899 CAD. The last generation 16e was considered disappointing by many, with reviewers pushing people towards the non “e” models instead.
This year, Apple brings MagSafe to the 17e as well as the A19 processor with less cores than the non “e” base model. They also bring a new C1X modem but stick with the same single camera setup, same selfie camera AS WELL as a 60hz display with a notch. A notch and 60hz in 2026, seriously Apple?!
Now you may be asking, what is 60hz and why is it bad?
60hz displays refresh an image 60x in a second. This means it can show up to 60 frames per second. However, basically every new phone, including phones even cheaper than our school blazer, have had 120hz and above for multiple years. Until last September, even the base iPhone 16 had 60hz which is unacceptable for this day and age.
The 17e isn’t all bad, though. The standard model comes with 256GB of storage, which is double last year’s model, and 3 colors, black, white and a new soft pink. If you like a smaller phone, the 6.1” display is also the smallest Apple offers. Some other notable upgrades include an increase to 15w wireless MagSafe charging, Ceramic Shield 2 for protection and an anti-reflective coating first used on the non “e” 17 models.
It’s clear Apple is trying to make this phone appealing for people who don’t use their phones much, and for that, it’s just ok.
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