SCIENCE & TECH: A tiny discount makes the iPhone 17 the better buy compared to the more affordable iPhone 17e — here’s why

As far as budget iPhones go, the iPhone 17e is a much better value proposition than its predecessor, the iPhone 16e, thanks to Apple upgrading the processor and modem, bumping the starting storage option to 256GB, and adding MagSafe — all while keeping the same AU$999 starting price.

While our iPhone 17e review heaped praise for its faster performance, smarter camera and extra storage, I’d be hard pressed to fully recommend it to most people as it has some limitations.

Most people turn to their smartphones these days for most, if not all, of their photography needs, and the single 48MP camera on the 17e could some people wanting more.

Then there’s its display — still only at 60Hz — that will be a jarring change for those who have been used to phones with higher refresh rates. It also doesn’t help that other phones in the same price range, like the Google Pixel 10a and the Nothing Phone 4(a) have 120Hz displays.

So, if I had to recommend an iPhone, I’d opt for the base iPhone 17 instead, especially with Amazon Australia discounting its 256GB variant by a tiny amount during the retailer’s ongoing Big Smile Sale.

Aside from the smoother 120Hz display and second rear 48MP ultrawide camera, the iPhone 17 features an always-on display (which was also not present in the iPhone 16), and a new front-facing Center Stage camera that can capture a wider selfie.

The iPhone 17e getting MagSafe was a welcome addition, but the iPhone 17 has faster charging speeds — 40W wired and 25W wireless charging, compared to the 17e’s 20W and 15W charging speeds respectively.

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I can see the value of the iPhone 17e for certain users, like those who don’t take a lot of photos, who want a more lightweight and slightly more compact phone (it weighs 169g vs the 17’s 177g, and also a few millimetres thinner and shorter), or even those who are trying to cut down their phone screen time.

But the handset’s 60Hz screen is like a bottleneck, which can make the 17e feel more sluggish compared to the 17, despite having the same A19 processor.

Ultimately, the decision between the two iPhones comes down to what your needs are, especially with the cheaper 17e getting ever so slightly closer to its more expensive sibling. But with this small offer from Amazon and the iPhone 17e unlikely to receive any discounts anytime soon, the iPhone 17 is the clear winner.