Apple has unveiled a new, lower-priced iPhone model, the iPhone 17e, in an effort to expand its smartphone lineup and boost sales. Announced on Monday (March 2), the iPhone 17e is a more affordable version of the iPhone 17, priced at $599, which is $200 less than its pricier counterpart. The iPhone 17e will be available in black, white, and pink, with preorders starting on March 4 and in-store availability beginning on March 11.
The iPhone 17e retains the same processor as the iPhone 17 but features a slightly smaller screen, one camera instead of two, and omits the Dynamic Island bar for app information. The device also boasts a tougher glass, Apple’s A19 chip, the newer C1X modem, MagSafe charging, and 256GB of starting storage, which is double the base capacity of the previous model.
The launch of the iPhone 17e follows the introduction of the iPhone 16e last year, marking a shift from Apple’s previous sporadic releases of budget smartphones.
Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, noted that the demand for iPhones has been “simply staggering.” The iPhone 17e is expected to appeal to users with older phones that do not support Apple’s AI features, helping to boost the adoption of Apple Intelligence.
The launch comes at a challenging time for the smartphone industry, which is dealing with an ongoing memory shortage driven by AI. The International Data Corporation estimates a 6.8% decline in the global smartphone market for the first quarter of this year.
Apple’s product launch week also includes a new version of the iPad Air, featuring an upgraded M4 chip. The company is gearing up for a significant year of product launches, including a revamped version of Siri powered by Google’s Gemini AI model and potentially its first foldable iPhone.
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