In less than a week, on Wednesday, March 11, Apple will release both the iPhone 17e and the iPad Air M4. The latest model is positioned as the company’s most affordable option and is naturally awaited with great interest by fans of these smartphones. Their specifications are certainly similar, however there are inherent differences concerning internal functionality. The most important is the new processor, A19, which marks the iPhone 17 series and essentially upgrades the phones compared to the previous processor, A18.
Read: Apple tests significant camera upgrades for iPhone 18 Pro: Variable aperture and improved telephoto
iPhone 17e: Its specifications
The device continues to feature a 6.1-inch OLED display and retains the classic notch at the top for Face ID, instead of adopting the Dynamic Island found in newer company models. The external design also remains similar, with flat sides, Action Button, and a single rear camera without prominent protrusion. The most significant changes are found inside the device. The A19 processor offers performance levels comparable to the A18 and access to Apple Intelligence features.
The A19 features two high-performance cores and four energy-efficient cores for the CPU, while the GPU consists of four cores. This is one core less compared to the five-core GPU featured in the iPhone 17 version, however the neural network accelerators added to each core are expected to significantly enhance capabilities in machine learning tasks. A significant change also concerns the connectivity system, as the device uses Apple’s latest wireless chips, including the new C1X cellular modem. The model doesn’t support mmWave, which is considered less important for the user category it targets.
Same camera
Meanwhile, satellite communication features remain available such as Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via Satellite, which can be used in emergencies when cellular coverage isn’t available. Another significant addition is the return of MagSafe, which was absent from the iPhone 16e despite supporting Qi wireless charging. With MagSafe, the iPhone 17e can use magnetic charging accessories and support charging power up to 15W, instead of 7.5W that applied previously.
In the photography department, the new model retains the same main camera as its predecessor. This is the 48-megapixel Fusion camera, which includes an integrated 12-megapixel telephoto with 2x optical zoom. In practice, this is a digital crop of the image from the same sensor. The camera also supports Apple’s well-known computational photography features, such as Deep Fusion, Portrait Mode with Portrait Lighting, Photographic Styles, and Night Mode. Digital zoom reaches up to 10x. Video capabilities include 4K Dolby Vision recording up to 60 frames per second, 1080p slow motion up to 240 frames per second, and digital zoom up to 6x.
On the front of the device is a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera, which supports Portrait Lighting, Animoji, and Memoji. It also provides 4K Dolby Vision video recording at 60 frames per second, as well as 1080p slow-motion video at 120 frames per second, with cinematic image stabilization. The device’s battery life remains at high levels. According to Apple’s data, the iPhone 17e can offer up to 26 hours of video playback, up to 21 hours of streaming playback, and up to 90 hours of audio playback. The new model will be available in two basic color options, black and white, while adding a new soft pink shade.
