{"id":44134,"date":"2026-04-13T14:53:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T06:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=44134"},"modified":"2026-04-13T14:53:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T06:53:39","slug":"iphone-17e-review-great-value-but-is-it-the-best-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=44134","title":{"rendered":"iPhone 17e review: Great value, but is it the best choice?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The iPhone 16e had a tough time at birth. Scoffed for being expensive and lacking features that some consider to be crucial to the iPhone experience, many did not expect it to sell well. My review was more positive, and I thought it was a commendable effort from Apple. Which is why I felt vindicated when it was revealed that the 16e was among the top-selling phones during the holiday season last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Its popularity ensured a sequel, which is the iPhone 17e. Has Apple done enough to improve it over its predecessor? Is it the iPhone that most people should buy? Or is the iPhone 17 the smarter buy? Let me address these questions in this review. <\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"_base_1xuyu_1 _tiktok_1xuyu_26\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed\/v2\/7616024893741665554?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7553181520153069072\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.5625\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"_nested_1lq60_1\">\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\"><b><i>The TL;DR version:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i>Though Apple has undoubtedly made its entry-level iPhone better, those who can afford it should get the iPhone 17 instead.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"_expanded_lwxdk_22\"><button class=\"_title_lwxdk_1\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Article jumplist<\/p>\n<p><default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"9\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\"><default:path d=\"M1 1L9 8L17 1\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/><\/default:svg><\/button><\/p>\n<ol class=\"_list_lwxdk_28\">\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">1. <!-- -->What\u2019s new<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">2. <!-- -->How does it compare to the iPhone 17?<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">3. <!-- -->A19 Performance<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">4. <!-- -->Camera performance<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">5. <!-- -->Final thoughts and buying advice<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<h2 id=\"what-s-new\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">What\u2019s new<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"iPhone 17e Soft Pink\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/ac1fae595810cecad98acc3af880ed755d1270187606e357622f02935bc8accb?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/ac1fae595810cecad98acc3af880ed755d1270187606e357622f02935bc8accb?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/ac1fae595810cecad98acc3af880ed755d1270187606e357622f02935bc8accb?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/ac1fae595810cecad98acc3af880ed755d1270187606e357622f02935bc8accb?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/ac1fae595810cecad98acc3af880ed755d1270187606e357622f02935bc8accb?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.8181818181818181;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 1100px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">The 17e comes in a new colour called Soft Pink. It\u2019s extremely pale and difficult to make out that it\u2019s pink at all. It\u2019s also available in White and Black.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">There are four key updates to the iPhone 17e. They are:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"_listElement_wioo3_107\">\n<li class=\"_listItem_wioo3_112\">The new A19 chip<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_wioo3_112\">Support for MagSafe<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_wioo3_112\">Doubled base storage<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_wioo3_112\">Better durability with Ceramic Shield 2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The 17e gets the newer A19 chip, which made its debut last year when Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 series. However, it\u2019s not quite the same version as the one you get with the iPhone 17. <b>It still has 6 CPU cores, but makes do with 4 GPU cores<\/b> \u2013 one less GPU core. Essentially, the 17e uses a binned version of the A19 chip. This follows last year\u2019s iPhone 16e, which used a binned version of the A18 chip.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"3000\" height=\"1455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/7048b1682a61494dbd36b8d8abbf2e6c6709dc6e9d930818a94efedfb11e76f0?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/7048b1682a61494dbd36b8d8abbf2e6c6709dc6e9d930818a94efedfb11e76f0?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/7048b1682a61494dbd36b8d8abbf2e6c6709dc6e9d930818a94efedfb11e76f0?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/7048b1682a61494dbd36b8d8abbf2e6c6709dc6e9d930818a94efedfb11e76f0?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/7048b1682a61494dbd36b8d8abbf2e6c6709dc6e9d930818a94efedfb11e76f0?w=3000&amp;q=85 3000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/7048b1682a61494dbd36b8d8abbf2e6c6709dc6e9d930818a94efedfb11e76f0?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:2.0618556701030926;contain-intrinsic-size:3000px 1455px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">Can you tell which is the iPhone 17e? It\u2019s the one on the right.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">One of the biggest things that was missing from the 16e was MagSafe. Happily, Apple has included it in the 17e. Since its introduction in 2020, it has become one of the defining features of iPhones, and it\u2019s good to use it included in the 17e.\u00a0Aside from charging, it also\u00a0lets\u00a0the 17e play\u00a0nice\u00a0with a wide range of MagSafe accessories, including holders, mounts, gimbals, wallets, and more.\u00a0That said, MagSafe charging in the 17e is limited to 15W, whereas it\u2019s 25W in the 17 and 17 Pro and Pro Max.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Apple has\u00a0bumped up\u00a0the base storage of the\u00a017e\u00a0from 128GB to 256GB.\u00a0<b>But\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0astonishing is that it\u00a0did so without increasing the price<\/b>.\u00a0The 17e still starts at S$949.\u00a0For those who require more storage,\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0a 512GB version\u00a0that goes\u00a0for S$1,249.\u00a0That\u2019s S$300 for an additional 256GB of storage. Storage does not come cheap at Apple.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The 17e also gets improved durability with Ceramic Shield 2.\u00a0After months of using the iPhone 17 Pro Max, I can confidently say <b>Ceramic Shield 2 is one of the most\u00a0important\u00a0new features<\/b>\u00a0that\u00a0Apple has introduced to its\u00a0phone. Apple claims that\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a03x stronger appears to be true because the display on my iPhone 17 Pro Max remains flawless.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-does-it-compare-to-the-iphone-17-\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">How does it compare to the iPhone 17?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1068\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/cbc81b78bbbe51ec574031dcc05e5e01f9fc281672a16f6f127055b43fb11abf?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/cbc81b78bbbe51ec574031dcc05e5e01f9fc281672a16f6f127055b43fb11abf?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/cbc81b78bbbe51ec574031dcc05e5e01f9fc281672a16f6f127055b43fb11abf?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/cbc81b78bbbe51ec574031dcc05e5e01f9fc281672a16f6f127055b43fb11abf?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/cbc81b78bbbe51ec574031dcc05e5e01f9fc281672a16f6f127055b43fb11abf?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.8726591760299625;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 1068px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">The biggest difference is the screen. The iPhone 17\u2019s screen is always-on and has a higher refresh rate.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">For most users, <b>there are two areas in which the iPhone 17 is superior to the iPhone 17e<\/b>. And that\u2019s the display and camera system.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Let\u2019s start with the display because it\u2019s the biggest update to the iPhone 17. After years of clamouring, Apple has finally given the iPhone 17 a ProMotion always-on display. This means it finally has a display that not only matches its price tag, but also that of its contemporaries.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Now, to be clear, the 17e\u2019s display isn\u2019t bad. It\u2019s still an OLED display after all, and it has great colours and sharpness. <b>But\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0stuck with\u00a0a 60Hz refresh rate, and it\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0always-on<\/b>.\u00a0I find that phones with 60Hz displays feel slower. Their slower displays make them feel less fluid and responsive. And without an always-on display, it means you need to wake the 17e up whenever you want to check for notifications or even just the time. An always-on display is so convenient and shouldn\u2019t be underestimated.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17e camera system\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1115\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/d3e264b9280a83106f8e0a99aec08a4c374acdaae162822b6ef7348be2c74f7a?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/d3e264b9280a83106f8e0a99aec08a4c374acdaae162822b6ef7348be2c74f7a?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/d3e264b9280a83106f8e0a99aec08a4c374acdaae162822b6ef7348be2c74f7a?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/d3e264b9280a83106f8e0a99aec08a4c374acdaae162822b6ef7348be2c74f7a?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/d3e264b9280a83106f8e0a99aec08a4c374acdaae162822b6ef7348be2c74f7a?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.7937219730941705;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 1115px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">The iPhone 17 has two cameras versus the 17e\u2019s one. <\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\"><b>The iPhone 17 also has a better and more versatile camera system<\/b>.\u00a0It\u00a0has\u00a0two cameras\u00a0for a\u00a0start: one main and one ultrawide.\u00a0Though\u00a0the main camera also shoots 48-megapixel photos, it\u00a0has\u00a0a larger sensor, which\u00a0lets\u00a0it\u00a0take cleaner photos when it gets dark\u00a0or when lighting\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0ideal.\u00a0And even though I\u2019ve long said that the ultrawide camera is the weakest camera on iPhones, I cannot deny that the flexibility it offers, particularly in tight spaces and during travels. And if you take many selfies, only the 17 gets Apple\u2019s new 18-megapixel Centre Stage front camera.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Camera hardware aside, the 17 also gets <b>the latest Photographic Styles editing tool<\/b>, which, in my opinion, is one of the best software improvements Apple has made in recent times for iPhone photography. It lets you fine-tune the \u201ctone\u201d and \u201ccolour\u201d of your photos in a non-destructive way,\u00a0making it easy for users to change the vibe of their photos. You can think of it as a photo filter, but one with more flexibility and control. The 17e is missing this and has to make do with the \u201colder\u201d Photographic Styles, which\u00a0is\u00a0more restrictive and less\u00a0useful<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a19-performance\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">A19 Performance<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"iPhone 17e gaming\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1033\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/1b2cdb31ce25a23ec08ad82bcd649d28ee3f033af5b50de579e71773ea0aa746?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/1b2cdb31ce25a23ec08ad82bcd649d28ee3f033af5b50de579e71773ea0aa746?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/1b2cdb31ce25a23ec08ad82bcd649d28ee3f033af5b50de579e71773ea0aa746?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/1b2cdb31ce25a23ec08ad82bcd649d28ee3f033af5b50de579e71773ea0aa746?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/1b2cdb31ce25a23ec08ad82bcd649d28ee3f033af5b50de579e71773ea0aa746?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.936108422071636;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 1033px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">The 17e might lack one GPU core, but it\u2019s still a beast. <\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">As I\u2019ve said, the iPhone 17e\u2019s A19 chip is nearly identical to the one in the iPhone 17, except it has one less GPU core. From the benchmark results, <b>you can see that the 17e\u2019s CPU performance is just as good as the 17\u2019s, and only that its graphics performance is slightly compromised<\/b>. Still, I wonder how many people will notice the difference in the real world. I managed to play games like Mobile Legends and NBA 2K26 flawlessly.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_tableOverflow_ag6jz_1\">\n<table class=\"_tableStyles_ag6jz_5\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"_tableHeadRow_ag6jz_18\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Model<\/th>\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">iPhone 17e<\/th>\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">iPhone 16e<\/th>\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">iPhone 17<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"_tableBodyRow_ag6jz_22\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Geekbench (single-core)<\/th>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">3512<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">3299<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">3549<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"_tableBodyRow_ag6jz_22\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Geekbench (multi-core)<\/th>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">8845<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">8065<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">9103<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"_tableBodyRow_ag6jz_22\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Geekbench GPU (Metal API)<\/th>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">31,640<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">24,363<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">37,068<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"_tableBodyRow_ag6jz_22\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Jetstream 2.0<\/th>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">428.49<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">354.74<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">423.19<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"_tableBodyRow_ag6jz_22\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">3DMark Life Solar Bay<\/th>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">8523<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">6280<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">9647<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"_tableBodyRow_ag6jz_22\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">3DMark Wild Life Unlimited<\/th>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">18,089<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">13,692<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">20,641<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"_tableBodyRow_ag6jz_22\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Battery life<\/th>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">545 minutes<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">428 minutes<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">593 minutes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Battery life was pretty good. It lasted <b>545 minutes<\/b> in our battery test, which puts it right smack in the middle between the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. That also means it lasted substantially longer than the iPhone 16e. What this means practically is that it should last an entire day for most people.\u00a0On days with heavier use, I found that Adaptive Power mode helps\u00a0to\u00a0extend battery life\u00a0so that I could\u00a0get by without needing a mid-day charge.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"camera-performance\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">Camera performance<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"iPhone 17e camera\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"994\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/a15707a17729b1119f1820189c5ce109eed78e8a884cd5e8100e0dbd5bbdeca3?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/a15707a17729b1119f1820189c5ce109eed78e8a884cd5e8100e0dbd5bbdeca3?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/a15707a17729b1119f1820189c5ce109eed78e8a884cd5e8100e0dbd5bbdeca3?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/a15707a17729b1119f1820189c5ce109eed78e8a884cd5e8100e0dbd5bbdeca3?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/a15707a17729b1119f1820189c5ce109eed78e8a884cd5e8100e0dbd5bbdeca3?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:2.0120724346076457;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 994px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">The 17e has a single camera. It shoots 48-megapixel photos and has a focal length of 26mm.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The iPhone 17e still only has a single camera. And it\u2019s the same camera that you get in the 16e. <b>This means it\u2019s a 48MP Fusion camera that shoots with a 26mm focal length<\/b>.\u00a0If you need a tighter shot, it\u00a0has\u00a0a 2x mode that\u00a0basically works\u00a0as a digital zoom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Even though the hardware is unchanged, it does have some software upgrades up its sleeves thanks to the more advanced A19 chip that powers it. Chiefly, it gains what Apple calls <b>\u201cnext-generation portraits\u201d<\/b>, which improves the quality of portrait photos and gives users the ability to change focus and background blur in post.\u00a0If you take\u00a0lots\u00a0of photos of people, you\u00a0could\u00a0find this useful.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_columnImageContainer_wioo3_46\">\n<div class=\"_column_wioo3_46\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"iPhone 17e next-generation portraits\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"640\" height=\"1140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6cff0065afa00eb27a52c0225ebbebe1876e3af252da65519d460d7444b5bf67?w=250&amp;q=85 250w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6cff0065afa00eb27a52c0225ebbebe1876e3af252da65519d460d7444b5bf67?w=400&amp;q=85 400w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6cff0065afa00eb27a52c0225ebbebe1876e3af252da65519d460d7444b5bf67?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6cff0065afa00eb27a52c0225ebbebe1876e3af252da65519d460d7444b5bf67 640w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6cff0065afa00eb27a52c0225ebbebe1876e3af252da65519d460d7444b5bf67?w=500&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:0.5614035087719298;contain-intrinsic-size:640px 1140px\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"_captionContainer_wioo3_69\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">You\u2019ll know next-generation portraits is at work when you see the small \u201cf\u201d icon appear in the bottom left corner.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_column_wioo3_46\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"iPhone 17e photo editing\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"640\" height=\"1140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/0c1c2c4a8867e1a153eb30bd6b9b576f9336fb591cc99c33bed056302445500d?w=250&amp;q=85 250w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/0c1c2c4a8867e1a153eb30bd6b9b576f9336fb591cc99c33bed056302445500d?w=400&amp;q=85 400w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/0c1c2c4a8867e1a153eb30bd6b9b576f9336fb591cc99c33bed056302445500d?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/0c1c2c4a8867e1a153eb30bd6b9b576f9336fb591cc99c33bed056302445500d 640w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/0c1c2c4a8867e1a153eb30bd6b9b576f9336fb591cc99c33bed056302445500d?w=500&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:0.5614035087719298;contain-intrinsic-size:640px 1140px\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"_captionContainer_wioo3_69\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">With next-generation portraits, you can adjust the amount of background blur in post-processing.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">What\u2019s more important to me is that it gains the A19\u2019s image processing pipeline.\u00a0Though\u00a0Apple is coy\u00a0on\u00a0the specific changes they\u2019ve made, <b>this new generation of iPhones takes photos that, to my eyes, appear to be more natural-looking and less\u00a0digitised<\/b>.\u00a0They are softer and less crunchy-looking, and therefore more\u00a0pleasing to the eyes. The 17e is also more willing to just let shadows be, so lighting looks more true to life, and there\u2019s more contrast.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">However, there are shortcomings. Even though it\u2019s a 48MP unit, <b>the actual sensor is smaller than the ones used in the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro<\/b>. For the most part, the differences are difficult to tell.\u00a0But\u00a0in\u00a0low light\u00a0situations, when it has to crank up the ISO, photos from the 17e appear noticeably noisier\u00a0\u2013 especially when shooting at 2x.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"iPhone 17e main camera sample\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"1140\" height=\"760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/9406b4085bdfb595d1b9dc985218610e4e6acdaa2b0aa670f4128789992034fe?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/9406b4085bdfb595d1b9dc985218610e4e6acdaa2b0aa670f4128789992034fe?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/9406b4085bdfb595d1b9dc985218610e4e6acdaa2b0aa670f4128789992034fe?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/9406b4085bdfb595d1b9dc985218610e4e6acdaa2b0aa670f4128789992034fe 1140w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/9406b4085bdfb595d1b9dc985218610e4e6acdaa2b0aa670f4128789992034fe?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.5;contain-intrinsic-size:1140px 760px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">The 17e\u2019s single camera is easily capable of taking beautiful photos. <\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The 17e also lacks the new Photographic Styles, which debuted in the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro. This lets you fine-tune the \u201ctone\u201d and \u201ccolour\u201d of the photos you take. For me, it\u2019s an indispensable tool, and it\u2019s the thing I miss the most when shooting with the 17e.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Finally, there\u2019s the fact that it only has a single camera.\u00a0To be fair,\u00a0it probably won\u2019t be that big of a deal in day-to-day life.\u00a0How often do you take ultra-wide photos on your way home from work? But there\u2019s no denying that it also limits your options. I\u2019m certain that it will be an issue if you take the 17e on holiday. Personally speaking, a good chunk of my holiday photos are often\u00a0either\u00a0taken with an ultra-wide or telephoto camera.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">All of this is to say that if you can live with the fact that you only have one camera,\u00a0and\u00a0you\u00a0are not\u00a0super\u00a0fussy about the photos you take, you\u2019ll be fine with the 17e.\u00a0There\u2019s no question that the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro take better photos, but the differences, in most situations, are minimal.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Here are some photo samples I took with the iPhone 17e:<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"final-thoughts-and-buying-advice\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">Final thoughts and buying advice<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"iPhone 17e\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/1774a9e3954512e0b34c6d227b7d1441e0aa71981233ee0fc37c118549e147a4?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/1774a9e3954512e0b34c6d227b7d1441e0aa71981233ee0fc37c118549e147a4?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/1774a9e3954512e0b34c6d227b7d1441e0aa71981233ee0fc37c118549e147a4?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/1774a9e3954512e0b34c6d227b7d1441e0aa71981233ee0fc37c118549e147a4?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/1774a9e3954512e0b34c6d227b7d1441e0aa71981233ee0fc37c118549e147a4?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.8518518518518519;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 1080px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">The iPhone 17e is a solid phone, but the iPhone 17 is the better option if you can afford it.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">There\u2019s no question Apple has improved its entry-level iPhone.\u00a0It gets MagSafe, and its base storage has been doubled at no additional cost.\u00a0Performance and battery life have been\u00a0improved\u00a0with the A19 chip, while durability\u00a0takes\u00a0a\u00a0big\u00a0leap forward with Ceramic Shield 2.\u00a0These are substantial improvements over last year\u2019s iPhone 16e.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">However, it\u2019s still lacking in some areas.\u00a0Having\u00a0just\u00a0a 60Hz display is frustrating, and it\u2019s missing features like an always-on display, the latest Photographic Styles, support for Wi-Fi 7, and\u00a0the list goes on.\u00a0If it\u2019s any consolation, none of these is an outright dealbreaker. <b>The 17e, for the most part, remains a very solid entry-level iPhone<\/b>.\u00a0But\u00a0it\u2019s also clear that Apple has trimmed just enough\u00a0off\u00a0to make users want to\u00a0pony up\u00a0more\u00a0money\u00a0for their higher-end phones.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Therein lies the biggest problem with the iPhone\u00a017e,\u00a0the iPhone 17 exists, and it\u2019s a phone that, I think, will give users more satisfaction. I\u2019ll admit, it costs substantially more. Prices start at S$1,299, which is S$350 more or 36% more than the cheapest 17e, and that is no small amount.\u00a0But\u00a0consider all the extra features that are missing on the 17e and\u00a0are\u00a0present on the iPhone 17, <b>and you\u2019ll\u00a0probably start to\u00a0arrive at the conclusion that perhaps the iPhone 17 makes more sense<\/b>, especially if you intend to keep the phone for a few years.\u00a0It\u2019s not often that I think readers should stretch their budgets, but in the case of the iPhone 17, if you can, you should.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_tableOverflow_ag6jz_1\">\n<table class=\"_tableStyles_ag6jz_5\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"_tableHeadRow_ag6jz_18\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Storage<\/th>\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">iPhone 17e<\/th>\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">iPhone 17<\/th>\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">iPhone 17 Pro<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"_tableBodyRow_ag6jz_22\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">256GB<\/th>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">S$949<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">S$1,299<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">S$1,749<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"_tableBodyRow_ag6jz_22\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">512GB<\/th>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">S$1,249<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">S$1,599<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">S$2,049<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"_tableBodyRow_ag6jz_22\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">1TB<\/th>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">\u2013<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">\u2013<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">S$2,349<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\"><b><i>Note: <\/i><\/b><i>You can find the iPhone 17e on <\/i><i>Amazon<\/i><i>, <\/i><i>Lazada<\/i><i>, <\/i><i>Shopee<\/i><i>, and <\/i><i>the Apple Online Store<\/i><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwarezone.com.sg\/mobile\/smartphones\/apple-iphone-17e-review-excellent-entry-level-iphone-it-has-one-problem\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The iPhone 16e had a tough time at birth. Scoffed for being expensive and lacking features that some consider to be crucial to the iPhone&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44135,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[11623,1111,1832,363,28],"class_list":["post-44134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech-gadgets-reviews","tag-17e","tag-choice","tag-great","tag-iphone","tag-review","wpcat-32-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44134"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44134\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/44135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}