iPhone 17: Ceramic Shield 2 and MagSafe Fix Address Predecessor’s Flaws
Apple was not present, but the American company announced the iPhone 17e on the first day of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The new iPhone 17e features magnets that allow you to attach MagSafe accessories to the back.
Like its predecessor, the iPhone 17e has a suggested retail price of €719. This is unusual because the 128GB entry-level model is gone. In its place, you now get 256GB of storage. During chip market shortages, that's a welcome improvement.
There is also a new pink color in addition to the standard white and black versions. The new iPhone 17e still has a single camera on the back. It features the same 48MP Fusion camera that allows you to zoom in up to 2x without losing quality.
MagSafe Integration Fixes Predecessor's Biggest Miss
The iPhone 17e features significant upgrades under the hood. For example, there is now MagSafe support. This means the extensive ecosystem of MagSafe accessories will also become available for the 17e. When Apple released the iPhone 16e, it received criticism for missing built-in magnets. Apple is now addressing that.
The screen on the iPhone 17e still measures 6.1 inches with a notch at the top for Face ID. What's new is the improved protection. For example, Apple now uses Ceramic Shield 2, which is 3x more scratch-resistant than the Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 16e.
Other improvements include the new Apple A19 chip with a C1X modem. According to Apple, the C1X modem is twice as fast as its predecessor. Also, Qi2 support enabled by MagSafe has doubled wireless charging speeds from 7.5 to 15 watts. Apple says it will deliver the iPhone 17e starting March 11. Ordering begins March 4 at 3:15 p.m. sharp.
