Apple's entry-level iPhone just got its most meaningful upgrade in years. The iPhone 17e went on sale March 11 at a starting price of $599 — the same as its predecessor — but this time it ships with MagSafe, the magnetic wireless charging standard previously reserved for Apple's higher-end models.

The MagSafe moment

MagSafe support means 17e buyers can snap on chargers, wallets, and cases from a vast accessory ecosystem that previously required spending at least $200 more. The phone supports Qi2 wireless charging at up to 15W, double the 7.5W maximum on the old iPhone 16e.

What's inside

At the core is Apple's A19 chip — the same silicon in the standard iPhone 17 — paired with the new C1X cellular modem, which Apple claims is twice as fast as the C1 modem in the 16e. The rear camera is a 48MP Fusion sensor with an optical-quality 2x Telephoto mode, and the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display gains Ceramic Shield 2 for 3x better scratch resistance.

Base storage doubles to 256GB at the $599 price point, removing a long-standing complaint about the 16e's 128GB entry tier.

The value case

Apple also quietly discontinued the iPhone 16e — released just six months ago in late 2025 — as part of a broader product purge that removed 15 devices from its lineup. WIRED's review concluded that the MagSafe addition and doubled storage "make Apple's cheapest iPhone a better value proposition than its predecessor." The 17e is available in black, white, and a new soft pink.