Is the iPhone 17e Worth Upgrading To?

Apple have just announced the iPhone 17e, and the inbox has already started filling up with the same question: is it worth it?

Short answer - for a lot of people, yes. But it depends entirely on what you're coming from.

The 17e sits at the more affordable end of Apple's iPhone range, starting at £599. It's not the flashiest option - you're not getting the Pro camera system, the ProMotion display, or the advanced telephoto lenses - but what you do get is a genuinely fast, capable iPhone that'll feel like a significant step up if you're still on anything older than an iPhone 13.

So who's it actually for?

If you're on an iPhone 11, 12, or even a 13 that's starting to feel sluggish, the 17e is the one I'd point you towards. You'll notice the difference immediately - faster Face ID, a much better camera in everyday lighting, and a battery that actually makes it through the day.

If you're already on a 15 or 16, there's probably no rush. The improvements are real but incremental - nothing that'll change your day-to-day.

What about the price?

At £599, the 17e is actually £200 less than the standard iPhone 17, which starts at £799. That is a meaningful difference - but it is worth knowing what you are giving up for it.

The iPhone 17 gets you a larger 6.3-inch ProMotion display with a silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a more advanced camera system with an extra ultrawide lens, and Camera Control. For a lot of people those things genuinely matter. If you use your phone heavily for photos or you notice the difference in display quality, the extra £200 is probably worth it.

But here is the thing - both phones get Ceramic Shield 2 for improved scratch resistance, both run on the A19 chip, both start with 256GB of storage, and both have excellent battery life. The 17e is not a compromise phone. It is just a more focused one.

If you are upgrading from something older and you want a fast, reliable iPhone that does everything well, the 17e does that brilliantly for £200 less. If you are already on a recent model and want the best all-round experience, the iPhone 17 is the one to go for.

As always, if you would like a hand deciding, that is what I am here for.

Need help deciding?

That's literally what I'm here for. Drop me a message or book a quick session and we can look at your specific situation - what you've got, what you actually use your phone for, and whether upgrading makes sense right now.

No pressure, no sales pitch. Just an honest answer.