Apple bakes in AI smarts into its new $599 iPhone 17e

Apple on Monday unveiled the latest version of its budget-friendly iPhone line. The iPhone 17e retails for $599 and will be available on March 11. The smartphone comes with the A19 chip that’s found in the base iPhone 17, and will support Apple Intelligence. The base model comes with 256 GB of storage, which Apple says is twice the entry storage from the previous generation. One of the most notable changes from the previous budget iPhone is the addition of MagSafe and Qi2, which supports wireless charging up to 15W. The smartphone is available in black, white, and a new soft pink color. Additionally, the iPhone 17e comes with C1X, Apple’s latest-generation cellular modem, which, the company says is up to twice as fast as the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, and uses 30% less energy. As for the camera, the iPhone 17e features that same 48-megapixel camera as the iPhone 16e. The smartphone’s Fusion camera enables an optical-quality 2x Telephoto, giving users two cameras in one so they can get closer to the subject and easily frame their shot, the tech giant says. The smartphone takes videos with the ability to record in 4K with Dolby Vision up to 60 fps. It also records video in Spatial Audio for immersive listening with AirPods or Apple Vision Pro. Techcrunch event Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400. Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit 1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediatelyOffer ends March 13. San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 REGISTER NOW The iPhone 17e is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance, and its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, which is said to offer trice the scratch resistance than the previous generation. The iPhone 17e supports Emergency SOS via satellite, Roadside Assistance, and Find My. The smartphone is made with 30% recycled content, including 85% recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100% recycled cobalt in the battery. Topics Apple, Gadgets, Hardware, iPhone, iphone 17e Aisha Malik Consumer News Reporter Aisha is a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch. Prior to joining the publication in 2021, she was a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Aisha holds an honours bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University. You can contact or verify outreach from Aisha by emailing aisha@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at aisha_malik.01 on Signal.

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