The latest iPhone lineup has a new addition – the iPhone 17e. It’s presented as a more affordable smartphone in the lineup, as part of a Promethean effort to bring premium features to more users.

The new smartphone joins the iPhone family, starting at $599 with 256GB of storage. That’s twice as much as the previous model at the same price.

Preorders began March 4th, and the phone will be available starting March 11th in more than 70 countries.

The iPhone 17e runs on Apple’s A19 chip and includes the company’s new C1X cellular modem.

“C1X is up to 2x faster than C1 in iPhone 16e and matches the speed of iPhone Air,” claims Apple.

According to the company, the C1X model “uses 30% less energy,” too.

It also includes a 48-megapixel Fusion camera, MagSafe wireless charging, and satellite features that allow users to send messages or contact emergency services when there is no cellular signal.

However, the latter isn’t a “groundbreaking safety and communication capability,” as Apple puts it.

The SOS feature has already been available on iPhone 14 and 15 models, but in this case, the “expansion” means that it’s available on a lower-priced model. It’s been reported on heavily recently: a group of 6 skiers who survived an avalanche near Lake Tahoe communicated with their rescuers using this feature specifically.

Many analysts claim that Apple’s attempt to bring iPhones closer to budget buyers highlights the company’s new, larger focus on the mid-range smartphone market.

Is the new iPhone 17e cheap on its own, or is it a regular iPhone with a hidden price cut?

According to experts, the jump in base storage on iPhone 17e is one of the signals that it is indeed a price cut in disguise.

“The difference between 128GB and 256GB usually costs an extra $100, but with the iPhone 17e having a 256GB starting point for $599, Apple has essentially reduced the price by 15%,” said Thad Hwang, CEO and founder at Goji Mobile, a consumer marketplace for new and used phones.

Others notice the same pattern but see it from the perspective of additional costs that have now been supposedly removed.

“Apple has effectively removed the ‘entry level tax.’ By making 256GB a standard offering, Apple has removed the £100 upgrade penalty, so the ‘cheap’ iPhone now feels like a fully spec’d phone,” said Steven Athwal, CEO and founder at The Big Phone Store, also a refurbished tech retailer.

There are many signs showing that Apple is more than motivated to decrease its product prices. Previous reports show that, even amid the chip price increase and the global shortage, Apple will absorb some component cost pressure “to make its lowest-priced model more compelling.”

Will Apple overtake Android?

The low-priced iPhone might come across as a celebration for Apple product fans. However, it’s a move that may sound some alarms with Android phone makers. That’s because Apple is now entering the $500–$700 price territory that so far has been dominated by Android brands.

According to Hwang, the iPhone 17e will directly compete with devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE and the Google Pixel 10a.

“The 17e uses the A19 chip, the same as its premium version, giving it an advantage in software updates for years to come. It also has MagSafe and Apple Intelligence support, so users can get a similar experience to the flagship iPhone models,” he claims.

According to Hwang, the one thing to keep in mind is loyalty either to the brand or to the OS. Hwang believes that the success of the 17e could be determined by Android buyers who want to try Apple (since it is now in their price range), or by Apple users who, until now, haven’t been able to upgrade.

“For those who have a mid-range Android phone now but are fans of Apple, the 17e appears to be a fantastic option to switch. And anyone with an iPhone 15 or older, the 17e could be a very cost-effective upgrade,” Hwang believes.

Athwal isn’t optimistic about how Android phone makers may react.

“If a $599 iPhone has superior resale value, 7+ years of software updates, and now ‘standard’ storage, what room does the mid-range Android market have to negotiate?” He asks.

The price is lower, Android might be defeated. What else is there for the users and the market?

It’s the new processor and modem, which Apple says will improve speed and battery life.

“C1X uses 30 percent less energy than the modem in iPhone 16 Pro, contributing to the exceptional all-day battery life,” Apple states.

It’s a feature that experts talking to Cybernews see as positive. With maybe one exception.

Hwang says these upgrades will be noticeable, especially for users who expect to use AI features more. He calls the 17e model’s A19 chip and C1X modem “a huge step up for the iPhone e-series.”

“The A19 chip allows you to run Apple Intelligence locally, meaning you will have faster AI photo editing and Siri responses without needing a constant data connection,” Hwang said, giving an example.

Meanwhile, Lawrence O'Connor, CEO at Other World Computing, is the skeptic here. He believes most modern smartphones are already very powerful.

“The current iPhones.. and even the last few generations are arguably way more horsepower than typical users ever utilize.”

He added that camera and battery improvements will likely be the features buyers are most interested in.

“The battery life and the camera will be the two things that are really noticeable in difference... which, once again, is going to still have an impact on the broader base that buys this kind of mobile device,” he said.

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