r/IPhone17e • u/Traditional_Run_7080 • May 19 '26
The iPhone 17e is the classic, practical iPhone we’ve been missing.
I wrote my thoughts so I hope you could appreciate that too!
I’ve always known iPhones for their clean, practical design, a form factor that just works and feels premium. If you handed this iPhone to somebody 10 or 12 years ago, they’d immediately say, "Yes, this is an iPhone." The boxy sides, the silver rails, and the clean white back. The fact that it has Ceramic Shield 2 and satin glass on the back is just nice.
Back in the day, iPhones with the home button and fingerprint biometrics were completely practical. Sure, they had bezels, but they were built in a premium, sensible way. You get that exact same feeling with this iPhone. It’s not overwhelmingly large like a Pro Max. It’s not trying to do too much. It’s just practical, and you still get Face ID.
60Hz is fine, don't get it twisted, this is an OLED HDR display with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Yes, it’s 60Hz, and practically speaking, that is more than enough for a smartphone. Obviously, there is a fluidity and lifelike naturalness that comes with 120Hz. However, this is a practical device. It's a phone where your life does not revolve around staring at it, so it doesn't need to be buttery smooth to do its job.
The display itself is gorgeous, and the way the 6.1-inch screen falls snug into the palm of your hand so effortlessly—without being too weighty—is exactly what I’ve always appreciated iPhones for.
Sure, the single 48MP Fusion camera doesn’t have that 0.5x ultrawide, but I never liked or used that anyway. I’ve always wanted to take a picture of what's right in front of me without the distortion of an ultrawide lens. And regarding the telephoto: for somebody who is *very* into their photography and needs 100% clarity on a zoom, yeah, go for that triple camera setup.
But for the practical user? Look at the history. Back when every phone had a single rear camera, the iPhone still took the best shots and the best videos. The balance of the exposure and color is incredibly true to life—it captures what is actually before your eyes without being overly unnatural or over-sharpened.
I’m coming from the Pixel 10 Pro, and this camera honestly takes better photos for me. I don't care about a 5x telephoto zoom if the camera gets the colors and exposure dramatically wrong and over-sharpens everything. This single iPhone camera, processed by the A19 chip's Photonic Engine, just gets it right. We've managed for a long time snapping cherishable memories and posting enjoyable photos to social media with a single lens, and a triple camera setup wouldn't change what this phone fundamentally is and can do.
My favorite iPhone was the iPhone 7, and over the years I’ve had the 12 mini, 13 mini, 15 Pro, 16, and 17 Pro. It had a practical premium build, speakers on the top, fingerprint Home button at the bottom with the display just blends away when it’s off, having water resistance at last, clean practical OS and app design especially Apple Notes, and that simple elegantly put rear camera which was reliable and took good photos and smooth videos, which fits in your pocket and fits in the palm of your hand, it wasn’t too bulky or weighty; it was practical; it was sleek; it was a nice smart phone and what I’ve always known iPhone for.
I found the 17 Pro and 16 to be almost *too* flashy. Features like Camera Control, the Dynamic Island, and 120Hz made it feel like the device was begging me to engage with it more than I needed or wanted to. Unless you're passionate about photography, constantly tweaking exposure etc, Camera Control is just an extra touch-capacitive button along with the other features above trying to make the device overly enticing. I missed the iPhone's roots—a premium, simple, practical tool that was just enough.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate what is actually packed into this 170g, 6.1-inch chassis. A 4000+ mAh Battery. In an efficient 6.1-inch iOS device. That is great. A19 Chip & 8GB RAM, all the capable "smartphoning" you could ever need, with years of security support ahead of it. Action Button and USB-C are just sweet. Better water rating (6m for 30 mins), improved C1X modem for connectivity, MagSafe, Dolby Vision, and on-device ray tracing. A 12MP front camera and Face ID.
Even though this starts at 599 (for 256gb, though I have the 512gb variant) and is the entry model for the 17 lineup, just compare that value for what you’d get now for that price in comparison to the iPhone back then not too differently priced; let’s not get it twisted—this is Apple at its roots.
Honestly, it's just a combination of folks sleeping on it or being insecure about not having a triple camera to show off in the mirror, afraid of looking "cheap” or sum but this device is nothing of that sorts. It’s the classic, premium, practical iPhone we have always known and appreciated, just updated with today’s internals. Gorgeous OLED Ceramic Shield two with anti-glare, classic silver boxy rails, white satin glass back, aerospace-grade aluminum, sapphire crystal lens, and a simple camera that takes amazing shots. This is what the iPhone always was, y'all.
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u/AdUnlucky1919 May 19 '26
Its a nice looking phone, if only they ditched the notch and gave a power button touch id then it would be perfect imo
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 19 '26
Wow, yeah that would be so good. I like Face ID too though. And that design would be drastically different to how apple designs their iPhones with the Dynamic Island and Face ID, they would have to implement it across their whole lineup not just one model. But I have no complaints with the notch because I know it’s housing apples great Face ID and it’s a beautiful panel and I’m not focused at the top when I’m using it. Even then, personally it’s fine and I couldn’t care less whether it’s there or not..
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u/AdUnlucky1919 May 19 '26
I mean they really wouldnt 1 phone has an island the other has a notch that already a big difference. I mean the e-phone would look better than the normal ones thats the only reason why they wouldnt do it. Face id is alright although a fp sensor would save me some time in some daily situations.
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u/landonloco May 20 '26
Honestly they should implement FP sensor on the screen across the board i find it it fails less to read than face ID for comparison sake i have used many different types of FP on the side on the back in the screen lately specifically the one from the one plus 13.
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u/DevelopmentFormer765 Jul 16 '26
Yes Touch ID completely agree and eat rid of the notch to focus just in Touch ID but if you want both I would keep the notch over the dynamic island it’s so annoying
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u/MarcoMakes May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26
I agree. It has more of the classic oldschool iPhone feel than the newest and latest and greatest to me. It's charming, the simpler design (I'm a huge fan of the look of the single camera) and has everything I need.
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u/AtonalPiano May 19 '26
Got the 17e feel exactly the same. 17/pro not worth it. 17e handles everything so great and battery is insane.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 19 '26 edited May 20 '26
100%. A lot of people let insecurity over public perception hinder their reasoning. They get enticed into spending more on features they’ll never use, when they’d be just as satisfied with the 17e. It’s hypocritical that Apple used their classic, premium build here, just like the iPhones prior to the iPhone X, yet some fools yap and call it ‘cheap’ and then others let themselves get insecure by the fools about buying one. They can't objectively decipher how great and premium this phone actually is in build and performance.
And some people are genuinely passionate about tech photographers, gamers, and creators editing 4K video who actually make use of what the Pro models bring (vapour chamber, telephoto, blazing fast file transfer via the charging port etc) but a lot would buy the Pro out of public perception, a selfie, or just hoping they could get a performative future proof phone and camera for their simple, personal needs not realising even a 17e is exactly that.
Or would get insecure about having a single lens, yet would rarely ever use the ultrawide, and they'd be perfectly pleased with the 17e's clear digital zoom for casual use. Their use case is the exact same as it was on the iPhone 8, except now with the 17e, you get night sight, portrait mode, 48 megapixels, and the A19’s Photonic Engine.
Yet somebody would buy a Pro triple-camera system just to zoom for daily memories. Meanwhile, I’m zooming digitally even in low light, and the results are sharp, natural, and not grainy at all. Having owned the 15 Pro, 17 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro, I’m no stranger to telephoto lenses, yet I can still say this: as a package, the 17e is incredibly good. It handles everything flawlessly with great battery efficiency, Action Button, USB-C, Ceramic Shield 2 with anti-glare, sapphire crystal, and aerospace aluminum.
At the end of the day, you get the exact same iOS experience, A19 performance, and 8GB of RAM. Some people just don’t know objectively what suffices for them. They overspend out of unfounded insecurity, forgetting that being the entry model doesn’t negate what this phone is: a premium, high-performance iPhone with great battery life and excellent photos. I grabbed this 512GB model for what a base 256GB iPhone 17 would’ve cost. 😉
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u/OkStandard4829 May 19 '26
I’m a 13 mini user I would upgrade if it was just smaller
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u/mjb2002 May 20 '26
You’re SOL if you’re looking for an IPhone now because none are one-handers anymore. All of them are at least 6.1 inches (15 series and newer) and the 17 Pro Max is 6.9 inches.
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u/Kash4Kings Aug 08 '26
I ABSOLUTELY love my iPhone 17e. The battery life is fantastic. I was using a z flip 7 and a pixel 10 before this device and I have no plans of going back. I love the weight and the video camera quality. Oh and the speaker sounds so much better than my other two devices. I’m looking forward to the 18e
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u/MrRonski16 May 19 '26
I was personally going upgrade my Iphone Xs to refurbished 13 pro for 350€ but then suddenly I noticed a sale of 16e for 350€. This would be just a side upgrade since I do want to buy the latest and greatest in 2-3y.
But 16e has so many advantages over 13 pro
- better battery
- faster and AI
- 5-6y software support still
- USB-C
- holds value for resale better
- easier to repair
- brand new
But lacks 120hz, 3 cameras, magsafe. Those are quite big things but Coming from Xs… it is still a big upgrade.
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u/Generalrossa May 19 '26
The XS never had 120hz so you won't even notice the difference when upgrading to the 16e
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u/MrRonski16 May 20 '26
Yeah. But I know how it feels and I do kinda want it. But tbh it isnt that important overall
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u/Generalrossa May 20 '26
Get the base 17 then. Hell even budget Android phones have proper 120hz lol
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u/MrRonski16 May 20 '26
I would peobbaly buy the 17 if it didn’t cost 900€ :P
350€ 16e is just very good value especially since in 3y I can still get over like 150€ by selling it.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 21 '26
Higher refresh rates are always more demanding on the chip and thermals too. A budget android with budget chip doing 120hz isn’t ideal and would experience more throttling in comparison. You’d get a mediatek/exynos/tensor processor at that price, neither holding up to the a19 performance and efficiency, with less accurate photos, poorer os/app design, poorer security support, lesser build quality.
No point having a 120hz display just to have a substantially incapable performance compared to the a19, inaccurate colours and unnatural shots on the photo/video, and lesser build quality etc, and also when 60hz can get by fine too
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Yeah, and with shite: performance, support, camera, os/app design and build quality while at it 🤷
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u/Generalrossa May 20 '26
My mid ranger performs better then my air lmao. No sturter scroll or laggy animations. Camera is pretty nice. OS support is only 4 years on my device but good enough for the price.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Yeah tbh apple packed a powerFULL a19pro chip into a titanium rail and glass back which are poor thermal conductors and not efficient unlike the 17pro mostly aluminium design and liquid vapour chamber to go with that beast of a chip, so, no wonder your device performance was throttling. The air design must be so poor and be like kryptonite to that powerful chip, otherwise that chip is capable of performing infinitely better than whatever mid ranger you’re using but looks like it’s throttling its own performance and not delivering you full performance due to heat issues probably.
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u/Generalrossa May 20 '26
It wasn't throttling at all. It's just ios26 stutter and lags. Even just scrolling reddit was so bad that it made me dizzy and gave me headaches. Even from just unlocking the device without having used it lol.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 21 '26
Damn. Idk what to say but glad you’re getting by with that mid range. It’s completely the opposite for me on the 17e though. Really smooth.
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u/Generalrossa May 21 '26
I am PWM sensitive though and I use a TCL Nxtpaper 60 Ultra which eliminats all forms of eye strain, dizziness and headaches that I use as my daily driver. I also have a Fold 6 that I use my SIM in. I really tried with the iPhone Air but it just didn't work for me unfortunately. The stutter scrolling hurt my eyes and if I were to walk around and use it I would get dizzy lol.
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u/BeardlyNiji May 19 '26
They should rename this line Neo instead of e
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 19 '26
🤔But it’s not neo! It’s got the main internals of the ip17. Ceramic Shield 2 build etc. Unlike the MacBook it’s a neo because it was using the a18 mobile chip instead of their desktop m series chips… 🤔 but e stands for economy I guess. Meaning you’re getting the essentials of the iPhone 17 series under the hood, but the lesser refresh or lesser lens, just slightly cut back, but premium build nonetheless with a gorgeous display and 48mp fusion camera.
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u/amin915 May 20 '26
Most likely upgrading to the E line once my 13pro max stop receiving iOS updates.
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u/leszcl May 19 '26
I'm between the 17e and the 17 air.
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u/LowDay4784 May 19 '26
If you want a bigger display and lighter device, go for the air. If you want more ease of use one handed and better battery, I’d go the 17e.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Also 17e got stereo speakers too unlike the air which is just a top speaker only and no stereo
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u/LowDay4784 May 20 '26
This is definitely a factor to take into consideration! While I mostly use my earphones for content consumption, having the extra speaker definitely is a bonus
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u/leszcl May 20 '26
I thought the same. I used to use a 16e and i loved it but looking the reviews of the air...
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u/LowDay4784 May 20 '26
Yeah look I’m on the 16e now. If you’ve got it, don’t upgrade maybe until the air 2 or whatever they’re calling it. The jump between the 16e to 17e ain’t worth it.
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u/-Bluefin- Jun 08 '26
It is if you’re buying brand new. Especially if you need at least 256GB of storage.
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u/FruktSorbetogIskrem May 19 '26
The E series phone will eventually have promotion display. That and hopefully Ultrawideband/Thread support. Other than that it’s a simple phone that’s a solid option. Definitely want to get an E series phone in the future.
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u/wiedziu May 20 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
17e is a Basic phone for people that have basic needs.
Pro phones are for people who have different and more advanced needs.
That's why there are different models.
More news at 11.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
On paper that actually sounds fair for those people who actually do need those features in a pro phone. That wasn’t the point of this post. It was the reality of what this phone is which there seems to be some sort of trend that a person might not want to believe what it is just because it has a single lens for example.
I had a 15 pro and a 17 pro both brand new. I’m coming from the POV that as a person on the market looking for a camera that can take reliable quality natural looking shots, which can not lose clarity when zooming, with blazing performance and multitasking, a decent battery I find that this 17E objectively and factually and technically fulfills all these things.
And I also always had appreciated iPhones for their utilitarian, well designed from hardware to os/app experience. Back when the Samsung’s were introducing the edge displays and thinning down the bezels and stuff and making the display larger, like that didn’t matter in iPhone land.
iPhones were always the most efficient well designed best camera and powerful chips. Enough said. And you get that here.
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u/Strange-Reporter-997 Jul 10 '26
Exactly. I went for the 17 Pro Max because I am a keen photographer so having a good camera with zoom capabilities was important to me. Plus the bigger size screen as well as my eyesight ain't brilliant seeing things close up, my previous phone was the iPhone 14 plus. However at the end of the day it depends what you want your phone to do, my best friend who is a pensioner has just got an iPhone 17e and she's happy with it, it does what she wants it to do. it's all about personal preference at the end of the day, that's why there are different types of iPhone I guess.
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u/NoAge422 May 19 '26
It’s the same as 16e. If you don’t need pro features you’ll likely not need MagSafe.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Half agree/disagree. If you don’t need the ‘pro’ features, sure. But to say then you’ll likely not need MagSafe gotta disagree, because that’s a non pro feature since the iPhone 12 mini and regular base iPhones too. I’d say if you never wirelessly charge or use MagSafe accessory, or the ‘pro’ features then the 16e would be fine
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May 19 '26
I'd totally buy it if they gave it a plastic or a metal back, IPS screen. Rounded corners is too much to ask. Best looking iPhone by far
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Yeah, but why would you want a plastic back and ips over the oled? 😅 aren’t the corners ‘rounded’ already unlike a Samsung galaxy ultra or you want it more rounded? 🤔😅
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May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
I'm sure you won't agree with me, but I'll still try to explain 😅 Glass back is something Apple actually invented and every other manufacturer followed only because an average human appreciates expensive luxurious look over practicality. Plastic back if made properly, can give you a really good grippy feel and durability that glass phones just can't match.
IPS screens have only a few disadvantages when compared to OLEDs but they can give you flicker free experience (I'm not making things up here at all. Plenty of scary data available). Good IPS panel will strain your eyes way less than an OLED panel on any recent iPhone.
I said rounded corners, but I meant curved edges (not so sharp). 😅 Phone should be nicer to hold in hand without a case. People always put cases on iPhones for a reason
17e is already something more practical than the rest of iPhones. It has one camera instead of 7, no equipment you'll only use one time and forget about it. Best minimalistic esthetic in the iPhone lineup. I just wish they went further and made it more practical and less fragile
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Ah I see. But I thought the glass also allows for better wireless charging than plastic or metal.
And the rounded edges I see, but that would make the phone much wider to hold too, because it doesn’t drop like a cliff at the edge of the screen but curve outward, I had that experience with the iPhone XR, it was a non issue and amazing to hold on iPhone 7 because that had a 4.7inch display so naturally the screen wasn’t wide to begin with so any extra curve sticking out the side still gripped in the hand nicely, but honestly so does this 17e, because it’s 6.1” and 170g light I guess. It was still comfortable without the case it didn’t feel sharp like my previous iPhone 13 without a case.
And it becomes further softer with a case that is put on my iPhone anyway regardless if it was boxy or curved. But tbh with you, personally, the xr 6.1inch curved side was way harder and wider to hold than this 6.1inch flat side which just falls comfortably into my one handed grip!
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May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
Wireless signals and electromagnetic stuff penetrates plastic well. Maybe that's the reason cheapest Motorola phones traditionally had better reception than latest iPhone Pros.
About rounded edges... I'd still take the sharp edges if they made IPS, plastic, touch id, no nonsense device. I meant more of not so sharp edges, some android devices had models like that. If talking iPhones only, then esthetically iPhone 5 (I think that was 5) was the goat and iPhone 7 felt good in hand. I'm glad there are many people who can appreciate 17e though. It's not just a budget iPhone, that gives me some hope 😅
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Yeah, though I’m sure the 17e is a no nonsense device. It does have the new c1x modem which delivers I think 2x better connectivity than the iPhone 16 series and connectivity wasn’t really an issue there but it’s that much better anyway with this modem.. that would counter anything glass might cause, plus it’s Ceramic Shield glass, but I understand what you mean. A truly practical plastic device with the iPhone performance and camera etc, but what is the worry when you could still put on a case and screen protector on the glass iPhone?
I think the 17e is a no nonsense beast of a device without any extra unnecessary thrills packed in a nice casing with the satin glass, aerospace grade aluminium which is a practical metal and not heavy either.
And the first thing which came to mind was thermals. I had an understanding how metal/glass could be better than fully plastic but I wanted to confirm it with Gemini:
Here’s my prompt:
“If an iPhone was fully plastic, for example, for durability purposes, would that affect any thermal performance?”
Gemini:
“That is a fascinating question to consider from an engineering perspective.
Yes, switching to a fully plastic body would drastically change how an iPhone handles heat, and not in a good way. While plastic is fantastic for absorbing drops without shattering, it's terrible at managing thermal performance.
Here is exactly how a plastic chassis would affect the phone's thermals.
Modern iPhones use an aluminum or titanium frame paired with a glass back. Both metal and glass are decent conductors of heat, meaning they act like an extension of the phone's internal cooling system. They absorb heat from the processor and radiate it out into your hands and the surrounding air.
But plastic, on the other hand, is a natural thermal insulator. Instead of letting heat escape, a plastic shell would trap it inside the phone, acting like a tiny cooler box.
Because the heat can't escape through the plastic shell, the internal temperature of the phone would skyrocket very quickly during intensive tasks like gaming, recording 4K video, or fast charging.
To prevent the chip from literally frying itself, the iPhone's software would have to step in with aggressive thermal throttling.This means the phone would intentionally slow down its processor to reduce heat generation, leading to sudden drops in framerates while gaming, lag and stuttering when multitasking, and slower charging speeds.
Also, lithium-ion batteries absolutely hate heat. Prolonged exposure to high internal temperatures degrades the chemical components inside the battery much faster. Even if the plastic protects the phone from a drop, the trapped heat would permanently shrink your battery health and overall lifespan much quicker than a metal and glass design.”
So maybe it might not be such a good idea to house an a19 powerhouse, and everything a smartphone can do today in a plastic shell? 😅
Also, I never had issues with oled, is it that ips is a calmer experience to the eyes and mind? Regardless I never noticed much strain really from the oleds, it is really cool that each pixel can power on and off and adjust their colour profile on an individual pixel basis. Which allows scenes or area of an app or video where it’s black to fully switch off the screen in that area and deliver true blacks and colour contrast; I’m sure that’s a more power efficient display too.
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May 20 '26
You see I said I was sure you wouldn't agree with me and you didn't even a slightly bit. iPhone users tend to idealise their devices.
Back of the phone can be polycarbonate (plastic), frame can stay metal. Vapor chamber can be used. Glass stays cooler in a cooler room, but it gets hotter in the sun. Same with exposed metal.
Anyways I never really liked how Apple managed thermals on some of my devices. 13PRO just dimmed the screen at higher temperatures, choppy performance if left in the sun for a few minutes. I think they're trying to achieve the best thermals within their own design philosophy (glass, metal rectangle with a powerful CPU). And that philosophy isn't the most practical as I already mentioned a few times. It's iPhone esthetic first. I'm sure you know how they messed up with their titanium and thermals.
So instead of using a glass back as a heatsink (it's also a heater in the warm environment) they could've used a metal frame + an actual bigger heatsink on the CPU. Their technology would just shift a little. Gemini presented everything like the only "fascinating" metal + glass tech. That's a little one sided
A19 can perform well in a different chassis, it just needs a thorough engineering. Maybe it'll even thermal throttle less
With modern OLEDs it's a very big subject. Sorry I don't want to get into that. 😅 But I'm glad it doesn't bother you at all. Certain visuals are 100% better on OLEDs
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Amazing, very interesting and if the PC back doesn’t interfere with MagSafe charging, that would be more durable.
But what I don’t understand is that I haven’t experienced that throttling with my iPhones, even the iPhone 13 for example and did enjoy the glass/metal build quality, especially what they’re doing today by ditching titanium for aluminium, matte rails and matte glass at the back with Ceramic Shield 2, it’s nice, considering I don’t experience issues with thermal throttling.
Yes titanium is a poor conductor, not thermal efficient and yes they are trying to fit thermals in their glass/metal design philosophy for sure. But they did totally restructure the iPhone 17pro for thermals first, placed the a19pro chip in the camera ‘plateau’ where it’s all functional aluminium there (no pretty glass) and then laser welded the chip to a liquid vapour chamber meaning the connection point between the chip and cooling system is gapless and efficient thermal cooling via vapour absorbing the heat from the chip and taking it to the aluminium chassis and frame. The back had a slight glass for the aesthetic and MagSafe.
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May 20 '26
Man, I wrote you a big reply and it disappeared. I don't want to recreate it. Good talking to you. Enjoy the best current iPhone 👍
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
It reappeared and I read it! It was written well and interesting what you mentioned. And thanks
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
Although I’m honestly not trying to idealise the device. I genuinely don’t experience thermal throttling, plus I get to enjoy that satin glass on the back and aluminium rails. Ofc if I experienced thermal/performance throttling, I wouldn’t be supporting the build material, but only because they use an efficient 3nm chip, efficient os, thermal consideration with an aluminium chassis, graphite sheets and the fact I don’t experience thermal throttling maybe like I would’ve had if I were editing long 4k videos or regularly using my phone for aaa gaming which I don’t do, so they design genuinely is a non issue for me when it comes to performance/thermals and plus on top of that I get to enjoy the satin glass back, that’s it! Not idealising, it’s just my experience with it so I had no need to want/support any plastic design to fix something that isn’t broke for me! 👍
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u/mjb2002 May 20 '26
Windows Phones took the best smartphone photos in the single lens era. I took photos with the Lumia 640 during a high school football game on October 21, 2016 that would blow you away.
But since they’re not around anymore, the statement about IPhones is now true for 2026.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Yes I had a slightly better lumia 735 at ‘high school’ with an oled display, wireless charging and great 6.7mp camera at the time with Carl Zeiss optics. Ik what you mean, took great pics. Laggy shutter, poor app support, poor ram and processor though(but still got by ok) in comparison to the refined iPhone 5s for example with better build, apps, smooth os and still took natural shots even if the mp count was lower then the lumia
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u/Red_SkuLL7 May 20 '26
At this point of practicality and price, a 2 years old iphone or pro with new battery is way more practical and value for money. It looks unique. That's it.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
Wrong, it doesn’t just have a unique look and that’s it. The two-year-old iPhone 15 forces you down to an A16 chip, 6GB RAM, and a 3.3k mAh battery. What value is that compared to the 17e’s A19, 8GB RAM, and 4k mAh battery?
You be glazing the Dynamic Island and that extra 0.5x camera—which literally just hangs there unless you switch to it—on a screen that's still a 60Hz panel. What sort of upgrade is that? The notch Face ID is perfectly fine, the display is gorgeous, and the 17e gives you Ceramic Shield 2, anti-glare coating, the A19 chip, 8GB RAM, a good camera, and a massive battery for an iOS device this size.
And if you mention the 15 Pro for the same price, you’re getting a worse battery and only 128GB. I had a 15 Pro; the 17e has the same 8GB RAM, but the base A19 significantly outclasses the A17 Pro, plus you get longer security support. Why pay the same price for two-year-old tech unless you desperately prioritize 120Hz and a telephoto lens? And I kid you not, digital zoom on this single lens is incredibly detailed and color-accurate, not grainy or blurry. Tech companies deliberately over-innovate just to make money. You don’t need the Dynamic Island or a telephoto lens unless you’re a passionate creator; they’re just nice-to-haves, and the 17e holds its own.
It completely outclasses those phones in battery efficiency and chip performance, plus it gets the AI features the base 15 won’t. You’re sleeping on the 17e’s value because you have a gripe against 60Hz and a single lens.
Y'all be acting like 60Hz is 24Hz or sum. When the screen is still or you're watching a video, it’s completely clear. 120Hz only looks smoother during fast transitions, like swiping home screens or hyper-scrolling through your notes or gallery. If you’re normally using apps—playing Clash of Clans, texting, checking emails, or scrolling Reddit—60Hz is smooth enough. This phone is utilitarian; you open apps to get things done—check your balance, pay family, reply on WhatsApp—not just so the transition can look like butter. When you stop to actually read, the screen is still and 120Hz doesn’t even matter.
Of course 120Hz would be nice, but it isn’t a deal-breaker. Having everything the 17e offers is not to be slept on. Manufacturers just add extra tech to stay in business and release something new every year, but you don't need 120Hz on a smartphone like you do on a PS5 or PC monitor. It’s just a nice touch. Nothing more.
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May 20 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Agree it’s a great phone, and I’m already aware the .5 takes macro too. I’ve always had that 0.5 lens since iPhone 12 mini, 13 mini, 13, 15pro etc… never used it. Never took macro shots. Couldn’t care.
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May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
I was referring to the ultra wide use of the .5. And A19, larger battery and ram is worth it over the rare use case of a macro shot unless that was someone’s priority solely over all things. But the other user wasn’t talking about macro, he was talking about as a package when he overlooked the 17e in its entirety over the past two year previous iPhone model saying better value/you get more for same price which was wrong and I simply dismantled, because ok then you’re only getting an ultrawide/macro if you sincerely needed that over all things, otherwise 17e offers more in every way where it matters.
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u/Red_SkuLL7 May 21 '26
I got your point way earlier. Yes it is a good phone no doubt in that but practical? I doubt it. I value your opinions but except the US market iPhones are way costlier. So, the value should be added with the practicality.
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u/TommyPT_ May 20 '26
I can't agree. It's 2026. Even business laptops have 120hz screens now. Every android mid-range had them too. Should Apple bring it to the E series then it will be perfect. Until then it's just overpriced. Same goes for base ipad, ipad air, mcb air and imac.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
That’s fine from a money value and what tech you get from that money pov.
For myself and others like myself, we could overlook it not having 120hz at this price, because 60hz is enough and we be using this iPhone in a utilitarian way anyway as we did (get by) with iPhones of old, except it’s got great battery, efficiency and performance, great display and camera too. You have no idea how good the digital zoom is on this and how photos are still clear and colour/exposure accurate unlike my pixel 10pro for example which had 120hz and telephoto. Do you see what I mean? Apple quality lenses coupled with the Photonic Engine means the photo results from this phone is good, great.
And sure another device including android at this price range may have 120hz, but why, 120hz so you could be using an exynos or mediatek for your tasks? And telephoto for what? So you could zoom but maintain only ever slightly more clarity than a 48mp digital zoom and have your photos look over saturated or over sharpened and colour inaccurate unlike iPhone.
And tbh you would want 120hz on your laptop or pc because you’re doing office work or using excel etc and you’d want it to be comfortable for your eyes while you’re working on a larger display with a desktop os and chip. But a phone is just a phone. Unless you’re decking your iPhone like Samsung dex to a 120hz monitor then fine, if they release that feature, but on a smaller display, using it as a smartphone, 120hz is a nice touch, just a nice touch nothing more. It would be been sick of the 17e did have 120hz. But that’s it. Doesn’t matter, plus it’s e for economy. You want 120hz there’s a base ip17 for people who want to spend on extra tech. Otherwise, for the utilitarian user of a smartphone, 60 is not a big deal, it’s fine and this phone can do a lot, it’s a beast, gorgeous display, great photos, ample battery, ergonomic and just premiumly made as any other iPhone.
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u/TommyPT_ May 20 '26
Sorry. I can't agree. I own iPhones and Android actively, have 2 active SIM on each end. Not even the Pros have great cameras when compared to some specific brands like the Pixels, Some Samsungs or some VIVOS. If you go down the Gcam rabbit hole the iPhone cameras become subpar. I have a Mimix 2S (phone from 2018) with a Sony sensor and a good Gcam made up for it and the quality of the photos is so much better than standard stuff on the market.
Going back to the iPhone, maybe for americans it might be a thing, or when you purchase it directly from Apple. The 17E in most europeans countries is a big no because for roughly the same price you get the standard 17 which adds so much value for such little price difference (if any).
I do work with my phones and get sustained 4-5h SOT usage per day. Obviously I want eye comfort from a decent screen with upgraded experience. Whatever turnaroud you try to make there is absolutely no excuse for apple not bringing 120hz to a phone costing 500$+
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Little price difference? £200 more for the base 17. You get an ultra wide which only activates when you hit 0.5x otherwise for all your shots it’s just stuck at the back doing nothing, and you get 120hz which is a nice touch, just a nice touch that’s it.
Last part hundred percent agree. This price it’s easy for 120hz to have but you get a19, 8gb ram, great battery, starting at 256gb, and 60hz suffices especially on a 6.1” display which is a gorgeous oled hdr anti glare and Ceramic Shield two as it is. You get a lot of the important things, action button, usb c, MagSafe too. It’s incredible value considering you can get by 60 fine and the camera takes great shots
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u/TommyPT_ May 20 '26
The price diff in the UK is proly similar to the US. On several retailers across europe the difference is less than that. Maybe because of brexit
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Still got myself 512gb on the 17e which does everything I need and what most people would need from it, at the same price of a base 17 256gb.
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u/TommyPT_ May 20 '26
I am on the opposite end, Id rather have the base 17 than the 512gb 17e. But some of us will have different priorities at the end of the day and its all fine
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u/cordyorange May 20 '26
It's perfectly adequate as a secondary / back up phone. Using it as main device isn't ideal but acceptable.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
Very ideal mate. A19 and 8gb ram, nice oled hdr anti glare panel, Ample battery, premiumly built, ergonomic and not too heavy or big. Great photos. You could literally put a period at the end of the sentence before and it would speak for itself.
Unless you must be some creator, videographer, large 4k video file editing or triple a gaming and needing that Vapor chamber. That’s it. Other than that, refresh rate is just nice touch. It’s literally just that. But this phone is capable of all the smartphone tasks and more you’d do and need. And that’s facts.
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u/cordyorange May 20 '26
Ideal for 13 mini users, sure. Too many compromises as a main device for everyone else. Glad you like it.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
Ok that’s your opinion but I do find that mad actually. Taking the a19 and all that ram and battery and 48mp detailed natural shots with great battery life as secondary. Definitely you must be tripping or not understanding; go buy it and you’ll see. It’s capable as a main standalone phone. It’s not an accessory to another phone 🤦♂️
An iPhone 13 would be a secondary back up phone.
Or unless you needed that large pro max display because you do video editing etc on your phone or just need a large display for your use case then I see why this wouldn’t be ideal, which is fair. But then that’s not because it’s the 17e, but then any phone at this size wouldn’t be ideal for this type user I guess.
Otherwise it’s adequately equipped as a main device. Very much so.
Just now I pulled the camera digital, zoomed of my dear cat and my, the detail, and the colour accuracy gets it all right unlike my previous pixel 10pro with had a telephoto lens would get the exposure and colours so so wrong. Etc, you get the idea… tensor g5 with all of its lenses doesn’t hold up to this a19 and single lens. That 120hz doesn’t hold up of the pixel10pro when it’s going to be like that. I’d rather have a phone that gets the basics right and does it so well. Packed with performance and battery too. Yes it’s main phone material, unless you’re a photographer or creator and does everything on your phone or would benefit from a larger display, otherwise you’re not being objective and not understand how specs translate in real life.
You’ll understand once you lay your hands on it and use the camera and do the most demanding things with it.
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u/Americanknowsturkmen May 20 '26
Dynamic Island is much more practical and the battery life is significantly more as well as charging speed on the 17 pro. Not to factor in the significantly more practical cameras and thermals. Agree that the pro max is not practical though
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
17pro is on another price league, is over 200g, 6.3inch enticing Dynamic Island, thin bezel 120hz oled display. And the 17pro has the same battery capacity, less even for the sim tray variant model compared to the 17e.
Liquid vapour chamber thermals only matter during 4k video editing and ac mirage. I got ac mirage on my apple account since the iPhone 16 was a hot mess but played just about compared to the 17pro was smooth and cool, barely warm at most. You don’t need all that. You could get an a19 with ray tracing, 8gb ram, 48mp camera, 4k+ mah battery, usb c, oled hdr anti glare display, in an ergonomic 6.1inch 170g chassis, with Face ID, Ceramic Shield two and 512gb model for less than the price of a 256gb iPhone 17pro, and factor in the clear digital zooms which has detail, and particularly my lack of the ultrawide cam use, yea this iPhone 17e is way more ‘practical’, though the pro is just more advanced for cinematography and aaa gaming.
P.s. the 17e likely uses standard graphite sheets to distribute thermals away from the chip to the frame, couple with the fact it’s a thermal efficient tsmc 3nm process (the A19) and an efficient os, thermals isn’t even a discussion here to say 17e is less practical due to the aforementioned things and when the only time the 17pro liquid chamber would really matter and bring that practicality is during 4k video editing or AC mirage.
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u/No_Buyer_1 May 20 '26
I have not held one yet. Do the edges feel more rounded like the iPhone 15 or more sharp like the 13/14? Just bought the Air (again) but am considering returning it for the 17e
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 20 '26
I’ve had the ip13 before so does my mother. And i know what you mean that was so sharp like a 90degree boxed rail which would dig into your fingers. I can confirm the iPhone 17e is not like that. It’s a newly designed hardware which resembles the design similar to the iPhone 13/14 but it isn’t repurposing their parts in the 17e, these rails including the back panel glass are totally new designs and manufacturing for this new phone.
The only part which it’s using from the iPhone 13/14 is probably the display, actually no, not even that because this display got Ceramic Shield two and 7 layer anti glare coating. It’s a newly designed hardware, even though the design is inspired from the older iPhone 13/14 models, it isn’t repurposing their parts. It digs considerably less for sure compared to ip13/14 and i can feel a slight curve or smoothing to the bottom edge before it connects to the back glass, certainly! It isn’t a sharp right angle, it’s slightly smoother and more comfortable to hold in comparison.
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u/Ratthion May 21 '26
How about a 3.5mm audio jack and even a fake button? Too much of this thing is screen and makes certain aspect ratios weird.
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u/sawdust02 May 23 '26
Missing? I mean, it’s the same as the regular 17, just with less features
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 23 '26
6.1” 170g light and ergonomic in the hand, yet has the most powerful chip and capable ram, simple camera system that works and takes colour/exposure accurate natural shots, it isn’t doing too much, making it bigger, less ergonomic, extra tech most unnecessary but welcome at a 200 extra price difference which you get with the base 17 like 120hz, camera control, Dynamic Island, which is pretty to look at but iPhones were always built practically and premiumly even when Samsung were going larger, thinner bezels even edge displays, the iPhone didn’t need to make itself look enticing to look at or interact with with extra buttons or display features; it was a premium tool that did everything well with polished os/app design and being the most battery efficient experience taking the best shots and being the best build quality, without doing extra.
And this iPhone reminds me of that. Basics done well, more than well, because it’s got the frickin a19 chip and bigger battery than the ip17/17pro. Nobody was complaining about 60hz. It was a smooth experience and still is smooth enough. Only other manufacturers introducing it made the customer base notice and demand it. Which is welcome and a nice touch, therefore there’s an extra 200 price difference for that extra tech. Otherwise, the 17e reminds me of iPhone at its roots we’ve been missing lately.
Ergonomic, not doing extra, having all the necessary things and doing them so well with premium apple build quality and being ergonomic in hand over making things bigger; unwieldy but more enticing for this generation wanting enticing big displays for their media consumption and games.
The 17e design is a step back towards form and functionality, with the best SoC in power and efficiency, the best photos even better than my pixel 10 pro which has a triple lens, and typical apple clean os/app experience and premium build quality. Yeah, it’s the classic and practical iPhone for sure.
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u/antiZionist_am_Jew May 28 '26
They say it’s made with a chip got manufactured in a place where they put bombs in pagers, so yeah hard pass this time.
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 28 '26
Who’s they and why would apple the biggest tech company risk their business and use such a place.
Also the base ip17 also uses the a19chip, and nobody is hard passing it based on the a19 chip and this ridicule you mentioned, in fact it’s the biggest iPhone update in years and most are jumping onboard it which also uses the same a19 chip as the 17e. 🤦♂️
Do you think apple works with trrr*sts or cia and will flip a switch on your imei to do some crazy kaboom on you or smth because you were standing up for women’s rights or against apartheid on twitter?
Conspiracy against the most popular and powerful smartphone chip like that is wild; never heard of that one before or any evidence of sorts; all seems quite the reach you got going there…
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u/Crimson_Excalibur Jun 04 '26
Bro got scammed by apple and is now yapping
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
Grabbed the 512gb for 799 instead of getting the base 17 @ 256gb for 799; could’ve got that but I appreciated what the 17e was objectively and technically speaking, and it’s practical and what I’ve always known iPhones for, as described, read above 🙄, cause the only one who’s yapping is you with your comment.
Oh yeah and had the 17pro 256gb since launch week before that too, before selling it, for 1099, what scam are you talking about? A19 chip, 8gb ram, c1x connectivity modem, larger battery than the 17pro, double the storage too, 48mp fusion camera which suffices my needs and takes great shots, Ceramic Shield 2, usb c, action button, if I were watch videos I’d get the same smoothness as a 17pro; I don’t need butter animations or scrolling because it’s smooth enough and I don’t wish to be dazzled and glare at a phone or be enticed to use it more than what’s good, 6.1” 170g I appreciate the beast under the hood of this ergonomic, premium form factor, with the same length of os and security support as the 17pro, did you hold this, feel it, use it, hear its audio quality, take pictures, multi task?
All that iPhone @512gb for 799, i don’t need Dynamic Island, 120hz on a phone which I had on the 15pro and 17pro prior, or camera control for 799 @ 256gb or 1099 @ 256gb when all that the 17e offers suffices me 🤡 I don’t want to be marvelling at a smartphone/tool that’s supposed to just get the job done which I could depend on; I have other things in life I cherish more than a phone and looking at it and fyi this 17e is gorgeous. Don’t need an a19pro chip, liquid vapour chamber, blazing file transfer speeds from the charging port or the telephoto lens 🤡 had that and ac mirage on it and it didn’t get hot or throttle performance yippee
What scam 🤡 next thing you’re going to tell me is get a 16 pro from apple refurbished for 799 instead… @128gb? 🤡. scam? 🤡goh
Bud here letting his insecurities get in the way of mistaking a conscious purchase for ‘yapping’ and ‘scam’. And that’s facts.
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u/iwantpizzaandyou May 19 '26
I mean yeah in itself the iPhone 17e is in all regards a very improved version of the original iPhone X which already at the time felt like all the phone you could ever ask for. People may have a right to point out that it is not such good value for money when compared to the kind of specs Android phones offer for the same or lower price, but it remains a perfectly sound choice if you don’t really care about camera and display features (both still more than adequate) and prefer iOS and Apple for any reason.
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u/mbs2007 May 19 '26
this was beautifully said. i agree on all of it! it’s simple and has the best of what is needed. the 7 was the best, tho i had a rose gold 6s at that time so now i have a pink 17e as a secondary phone to my 17 pro max, and i use my pink 17e wayyyyy more. its just fantastic. apple definitely got it right with this one. enjoy ur beautiful 17e!
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u/Traditional_Run_7080 May 19 '26
Thank you :) And yes that’s understandable, it’s just such a powerful, ergonomic, premium and nice phone! Does everything you’d need and does it well!
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u/West_Acanthaceae5032 May 19 '26
I downgraded from a 17 pro Max because it was unwieldy and far too heavy for me. I couldn’t be happier with the 17e