Apple is burning in AI smarts in its new $599 iPhone 17e

Apple Monday uncovered the latest version of its budget-friendly iPhone line. The iPhone 17e retails for $599 and will be available on March 11.

The smartphone comes with the A19 chip found in the base of the iPhone 17, and supports Apple Intelligence. The base model comes with 256 GB of storage, which Apple says is double the storage of the previous generation.

One of the most notable changes in the previous budget iPhone is the addition of MagSafe and Qi2, which supports wireless charging up to 15W.

The smartphone is available in black, white, and a new soft pink color.

In addition, the iPhone 17e comes with C1X, Apple’s latest modem, which, the company claims, is twice as fast as the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, and uses 30% less power.

As for the camera, the iPhone 17e has the same 48-megapixel camera as the iPhone 16e. The smartphone’s Fusion camera supports an impressive 2x Telephoto, giving users two cameras in one so they can get closer to the subject and capture their image with ease, the tech giant said.

The smartphone can record videos in 4K with Dolby Vision up to 60 fps. It also records video in Spatial Audio for immersive listening with AirPods or Apple Vision Pro.

The iPhone 17e is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance, and its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, which is said to offer more resistance than the previous generation.

The iPhone 17e supports Emergency SOS via satellite, Roadside Assistance, and Find My.

The smartphone is made of 30% recycled materials, including 85% recycled aluminum in the casing and 100% recycled cobalt in the battery.