Upgraded features for the same price

Updated March 3, 2026 — 7:03am,

Apple has introduced a new version of its cheaper iPhone, kicking off a week of announcements that are thought to include an entry-level MacBook.

iPhone 17e It includes several upgrades over last year’s 16e, starting with twice the storage (256GB) for the same $999 price. This may seem like a small thing, but it borders on miraculous given the tech industry’s ongoing memory crisis, which has increased the prices of almost everything.

The iPhone 17e represents the first of several new iPhones expected this year.

Apple added Ceramic Shield 2 glass to the front of the phone to provide better protection against cracks, scratches, and glare; On the back, the 17e now supports MagSafe for faster, more efficient magnetic charging and compatibility with a variety of mounts, cases and accessories. This was a notable omission in 16e.

And finally, the 17e inherits the A19 chip from the iPhone 17, albeit with slightly less graphics power for superior processing speed and built-in AI.

Aside from these significant upgrades, the new smartphone is very close to the design of the 16e. It’s visually identical to the now-outdated notch at the top of the 6.1-inch OLED display, but its aluminum body now comes in a pink finish option in addition to black and white. The phone also has a single camera, the same as last year’s phone.

Considering it uses the same chip, Apple’s E-series is an effective upgrade path that lets you get the software features of the latest iPhone for $400 less. However, the iPhone 17 also has some significant advantages over the cheaper phone; these include a brighter, smoother 120Hz display with always-on features, Dynamic Island notch, secondary ultra-wide rear camera and faster graphics processing.

At price point, the iPhone 17e competes with mid-range models from Samsung and Google’s A-series lineup, as well as offerings from Chinese phone makers.

There were rumors that Apple would be preparing several product announcements for this week, and CEO Tim Cook confirmed this last week. In a post on X. Along with the iPhone 17e, the company also introduced a refreshed iPad Air that comes with an M4 chip and more memory, priced at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,349 for the 13-inch model. Both devices will be available on March 11.

Leaks and rumors suggest that the coming days could bring a new, cheaper MacBook running on the iPhone chip and featuring brightly colored finishes, as well as new M5 MacBook Pros, a new base model iPad supporting Apple Intelligence, and new Studio desktops and displays.

Emarketer analyst Jacob Bourne said the product slate was a concerted move by Apple to refresh its product line around mass-market price points, giving it an edge over rivals amid the memory crisis.

“The company clearly sees the economic writing on the wall amid flat holiday consumer spending, a stagnant job market, and persistent inflation that is pushing consumers toward value over luxury,” he said.

“In this case, affordability is a calculated bet that gaining market share is worth offsetting short-term margin pressure. Apple is playing a long-term play, using affordable hardware as the gateway to its ecosystem and ultimately Apple Intelligence, at a time when the race for AI talent is intensifying.”

Later in the year, Apple will launch iPhone 18 models, the Pro versions of which are expected to have an under-screen Face ID module and new 2 nm chips. The company is also expected to launch its first foldable phone this year, but it’s unlikely to cost less than $2,000.

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