iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 17e Buyer's Guide: All Upgrades Compared

Apple released the iPhone 17e, succeeding the iPhone 16e, a year after its predecessor's launch. The 17e features upgrades, including the A19 chip and MagSafe wireless charging. MagSafe provides faster wireless charging and compatibility with various accessories. The base storage in the 17e has doubled to 256GB, improving upon the 16e's 128GB. The new model introduces Ceramic Shield 2, promising enhanced scratch resistance and reduced glare. Performance boosts are incremental, benefiting computational photography and future iOS features. The modem has been updated for improved efficiency, but battery life remains at 26 hours. The 17e offers a significant upgrade for users of older iPhones since it is a more future-proofed baseline. However, the 16e may represent a better value, if significantly discounted. The 17e's MagSafe, increased storage, and durability make it the superior long-term choice. Pre-orders for the iPhone 17e start March 4th, with availability beginning March 11th. The 17e is generally the better purchase if the price gap is only modest.