15 things you get for $200 more on iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17e

In this post, we tell you about all the wonderful upgrades you get by paying an extra $200 for the iPhone 17 instead of iPhone 17e.

The most affordable smartphone in Apple’s current lineup is the new iPhone 17e, which starts at $599. The regular iPhone 17, announced last September, starts at $799. In this post, we tell you about all the wonderful upgrades you get by paying an extra $200! Right off the bat, iPhone 17 has a nicer front look with a smaller Dynamic Island compared to the (ugly) Face ID notch on iPhone 17e, which makes it look dated.

Secondly, the side bezels on the iPhone 17 are much thinner than on the 17e. If you have never used an iPhone with Dynamic Island, you should know that this little pill at the top of the display helps you keep track of sports scores, flight status, timers, music controls, and more. If you’re upgrading from an older notch-based iPhone, Dynamic Island will be a subtle yet significant improvement. Plus, it will be something new for you.

One of the reasons to love the iPhone 17 is its higher 120Hz ProMotion display, which, until the previous generation, was only available on Pro and Pro Max models. A 120Hz panel makes scrolling and viewing content super smooth and is pleasing to the eyes. In comparison, the cheaper iPhone 17e is limited to just 60Hz (not even 90Hz)! If you’ve never used a ProMotion display, trust me, it’s a massive upgrade that you’ll notice the moment you set up your new iPhone and scroll through the Home Screen app icons.

While the pixel resolution (2532-by-1170), pixel per inch (460 ppi), and typical contrast ratio are the same for displays on both the iPhone 17 and 17e, the panel on the former is brighter. In short, if you use your phone outdoors often, the iPhone 17 will be a better fit. Just like I don’t use a screen saver on my MacBook, I don’t use Always-On display because I think it unnecessarily drains the battery.

But I know many iPhone and Android users who love having the clock, widgets, and Live Activities permanently displayed on their Lock Screen, even when the phone is not in use. If you think this would be helpful to you, then iPhone 17 is for you, not the 17e. While the iPhone 17e has an impressive battery on paper, the iPhone 17 edges it by offering 4 extra hours of video playback. The iPhone 17 lineup features a new 18MP Center Stage front camera with a square sensor, allowing you to take wide group/landscape photos even when holding the phone in portrait orientation.

Plus, this new camera sensor adds the following features that are missing on iPhone 17e’s 12MP front camera: The iPhone 17 will be better suited to you if you often forget to charge your phone every night. It can reach 50% charge in 20 minutes when you use a 40W or higher adapter. In comparison, the iPhone 17e can fast-charge to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter. Secondly, even though the iPhone 17e now supports up to 15 watts of wireless charging (compared to 7.5 watts on the iPhone 16e), the regular iPhone 17 can fast-charge wirelessly at up to 25 watts.

iPhone 17 supports the newer Bluetooth 6 and Wi-Fi 7 specifications, while iPhone 17e is still on older Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi‑Fi 6. Secondly, just like the thin iPhone Air, iPhone 17e does not support 5G mmWave, but iPhone 17 does. On top of that, iPhone 17 has improved-precision dual-frequency GPS for a better overall location experience. And if you use smart home and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, iPhone 17 supports the more reliable Thread networking technology, while 17e makes no mention of it.

One area where iPhone 17e shines is Apple’s C1X chip, which helps keep your location more private by preventing your cell carrier from knowing your exact whereabouts. This feature is not available on any other iPhone, except the iPhone Air. iPhone 17 has Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband (U2) chip, while the iPhone 17e has the U1 chip. Compared to U1, the U2 chip has up to three times longer precision range, more precise spatial detection, and uses less battery.

In short, finding your AirTags, AirPods case, and nearby Find My people is faster, more accurate, and works from farther away when using an iPhone 17 instead of iPhone 17e. I initially hated the Camera Control button, but after making some changes, I think it does a great job of launching the camera instantly and taking a quick photo. If you shoot lots of pictures, its addition can be handy; and you’ll find it on iPhone 17 but not iPhone 17e.

While both the iPhone 17 and 17e share the A19 chip, the one in the more expensive model has an extra GPU core (5 vs. 4). iPhone 17 comes in five finishes: Lavender, Mist Blue, Black, White, and Sage. iPhone 17e is limited to three: White, Black, and the new Soft Pink colors. If you had to choose, would you be willing to pay $200 more for the above upgrades? For me, the $200 extra is worth a better high-refresh-rate screen, an extra camera, and a better battery.

You can pre-order the iPhone 17e starting today (March 4, 2026), with the first deliveries on March 11. iPhone 17 is already available with 2-hour or next-day delivery in many ZIP codes.

Summary

This report covers the latest developments in iphone. The information presented highlights key changes and updates that are relevant to those following this topic.

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