Apple has released the iPhone 17e, featuring MagSafe, increased storage, a faster C1x modem, and enhanced 2x optical zoom, alongside the iPad Air M4 with a new processor, setting the stage for more product announcements this week. Picture: Apple
Image: Apple
Apple began the week with perhaps its smallest product update on Monday, expected over the next few days, with the release of the iPhone 17e and the iPad Air M4.
The 17e made a couple of important updates, most notably the addition of MagSafe, which was strangely missing from the 16e, which launched last year. MagSafe allows magnetic wireless charging, which has been a standard feature in all iPhones since the 12 models were launched back in 2020.
The absence of MagSafe was the most common complaint about the cheapest new iPhone when the 16e came out.
It also improved the base storage from 128GB to 256GB. This is a massive upgrade, as the smaller starting storage of the 16e was simply way too little even in 2025.
It’s stayed in the same compact 6.1” form factor, which was also first reintroduced with the 16e.
The C1x modem inside the 17e is also said to be twice as fast, according to Apple.
The new phone will also feature the new Apple A19 chip, like the rest of the 17 series.
Another small update was made with the camera, as the optical zoom received an update to provide real 2x optical zoom capability and not just digital. This is quite a substantial improvement.
All in all, it’s not a major update from the 16e - but it would certainly be a good upgrade if you’re coming from an iPhone 12 or older.
With the iPad Air, with no design changes, it will now feature the M4 processor, which is a decent step up from the previous generation from just a year ago.
It’s still available in 11” and 13” sizes, and unlike the 17e, it has not bumped up the starting storage and still starts at 128GB.
With the new budget MacBook set to be the biggest announcement this week, it made sense that Apple began the week with these two products.