Apple unveils its cheapest iPhone: What makes new model stand out

What the new iPhone 17e will offer

The smartphone features a flagship chip and an upgraded camera at a relatively affordable price. The base model costs $599 and comes with 256 GB of built-in storage — twice as much as the previous model at the same price.

At the core of the iPhone 17e is the new A19 chip, which delivers fast performance for everyday tasks, gaming, and AI features.

The smartphone also comes with Apple’s own C1X modem. According to the company, it is twice as fast as the C1 modem used in the previous iPhone 16e.

Camera and display features

Photo: what the side edge of the iPhone 17e looks like (Apple)

The iPhone 17e features a 48-megapixel Fusion camera. It captures next-generation portraits and 4K Dolby Vision video.

Thanks to sensor crop technology, the camera provides a twofold optical zoom — effectively offering two focal lengths in a single module without a separate telephoto lens.

The display measures 6.1 inches diagonally and is a Super Retina XDR panel. The protective glass is Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple says is three times more resistant to scratches and handles sunlight glare better than the previous version.

MagSafe support is included, enabling fast wireless charging and compatible accessories.

If the smartphone is outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, Apple’s satellite features are available:

• Emergency calling

• Roadside assistance

• Messaging

• Location tracking via satellite.

What else did Apple unveil

Photo: the iPad Air 2026 received minimal changes (Apple)

At the same time, the company announced the iPad Air with the M4 chip. Compared to its predecessor, it features:

• 12 GB of RAM (up from 8 GB)

• Wi-Fi 7 instead of Wi-Fi 6E

• Bluetooth 6 instead of 5.3.

The colors and design remain unchanged, and the device is slightly heavier — by 4–5 grams.

Prices for the 11-inch version:

• $600 – Wi-Fi only

• $750 – Wi-Fi + cellular.

Prices for the 13-inch version:

• $800 – Wi-Fi only

• $950 – Wi-Fi + cellular.

Apple Experience format: Three days and three cities

This year, Apple is moving away from the traditional single online stream from Cupertino. The company has announced a series of events called Apple Experience, which will run for three days — from March 2 to 4.

Presentations will take place simultaneously in three major cities worldwide: New York, London, and Shanghai. Instead of a classic stage show, journalists and influencers will have the opportunity to test devices immediately in special demo zones.

In addition to the iPhone 17e and the updated iPad Air, the tech giant is preparing several other high-profile launches. The main highlight is a completely new budget MacBook (likely with a 12-inch screen) that will run on the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro.

The computer lineup will also be expanded with new MacBook Pro models, and fans of Apple’s ecosystem can look forward to a presentation of the Studio Display monitor with mini-LED technology.