Apple iPhone 17e

 

14th best phone of 2026 (~$599)

GSMCritic Take: With its fast A19 processor, generous 256GB storage, and long-lasting battery, this phone handles daily tasks smoothly, though its 60Hz display and single rear camera limit the multimedia experience.

Reviews  

Overall phone rating and the reviews that impact it.

80

1st review by

80

6th review by

80

2nd review by

78

GSMCritic Score

80

5th review by

70

3rd review by

80

4th review by

* how the score is calculated?

Last update: 2026-03-12

Pros

Human Checked Mobile Phone Pros&Cons
Camera
Strong Photo Quality: The single rear camera is capable of producing sharp photos, great images, and improved portrait photography with solid overall image quality.
Performance
A19 Processor Performance: The A19 processor is characterized as fast, solid, and superb, delivering strong responsiveness and performance.
Design
Compact Design: The device is described as a lovely, comfortably small phone with a notably compact physical form.
Vibrant Durable Display: The screen is described as vibrant and visually pleasing, and its durability has been improved.
Battery
Excellent Battery Life: Battery endurance is described as long-lasting and dependable, providing reliable all-day use with brilliant longevity.
MagSafe Support: Built-in magnets add MagSafe compatibility, enabling MagSafe accessories and faster wireless charging.
Storage
256GB Base Storage: The base configuration starts at 256GB, doubling the previous entry-level capacity while keeping the same price.
Other
Pink Color Option: A new soft pink finish is offered and is described as a particularly attractive addition.
Cons
Human Checked Mobile Phone Pros&Cons
Camera
Single Rear Camera System: The phone relies on a lone rear camera sensor without an ultrawide or additional lenses, creating a constrained camera setup.

Basic Front Camera Hardware: The device lacks the clever front-camera capabilities associated with the iPhone 17 and does not include an upgraded selfie camera.

No Camera Control Button: The phone does not include a dedicated Camera Control hardware button.

Design
No Major Design Changes: The overall design does not meaningfully diverge from previous models and lacks significant design revisions.

Display
Limited Display Features: The display is capped at 60Hz, does not reach 120Hz class refresh rates, and lacks always-on display functionality, making it feel somewhat dated.

Battery
Slow Wired Charging: Wired charging speed is limited to 20W, capping the maximum charging performance.

Connectivity
Older Wireless Connectivity: The device relies on older Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios and also omits an ultra-wideband chip.

Rankings


ranking-point The Best Phone Of 2026: #14


ranking-point The Largest Screen Size Of 2026: #16

ranking-point The Smallest Screen Size Of 2026: #1

ranking-point The Lightest Phone Of 2026: #2

ranking-point The Thinnest Phone Of 2026: #5

ranking-point The Fastest Charging Speed Of 2026: #16

ranking-point The Highest Screen To Body Ratio Of 2026: #16

ranking-point The Cheapest Phone Of 2026: #10