Apple Industry News

The most affordable smartphone in Apple’s current lineup is the new iPhone 17e, which starts at $599. The regular iPhone 17, announced last September, starts at $799. In this post, we tell you about all the wonderful upgrades you get by paying an extra $200!

1. You get a modern-looking phone

Right off the bat, iPhone 17 has a nicer front look with a smaller Dynamic Island compared to the (ugly) Face ID notch on iPhone 17e, which makes it look dated. Secondly, the side bezels on the iPhone 17 are much thinner than on the 17e.

If you have never used an iPhone with Dynamic Island, you should know that this little pill at the top of the display helps you keep track of sports scores, flight status, timers, music controls, and more.

If you’re upgrading from an older notch-based iPhone, Dynamic Island will be a subtle yet significant improvement. Plus, it will be something new for you.

2. A higher refresh rate screen

One of the reasons to love the iPhone 17 is its higher 120Hz ProMotion display, which, until the previous generation, was only available on Pro and Pro Max models.

A 120Hz panel makes scrolling and viewing content super smooth and is pleasing to the eyes. In comparison, the cheaper iPhone 17e is limited to just 60Hz (not even 90Hz)!

If you’ve never used a ProMotion display, trust me, it’s a massive upgrade that you’ll notice the moment you set up your new iPhone and scroll through the Home Screen app icons.

3. Slightly bigger display

iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch display, while iPhone 17e is a tad smaller at 6.1-inch.

4. Brighter display

While the pixel resolution (2532-by-1170), pixel per inch (460 ppi), and typical contrast ratio are the same for displays on both the iPhone 17 and 17e, the panel on the former is brighter.

• 1000 nits max brightness (typical) vs. 800 nits
• 1600 nits peak brightness (HDR) vs. 1200 nits
• 3000 nits peak brightness (outdoor) vs. no such info for iPhone 17e

In short, if you use your phone outdoors often, the iPhone 17 will be a better fit.

5. Always-On display

Just like I don’t use a screen saver on my MacBook, I don’t use Always-On display because I think it unnecessarily drains the battery. But I know many iPhone and Android users who love having the clock, widgets, and Live Activities permanently displayed on their Lock Screen, even when the phone is not in use. If you think this would be helpful to you, then iPhone 17 is for you, not the 17e.

6. More battery backup

While the iPhone 17e has an impressive battery on paper, the iPhone 17 edges it by offering 4 extra hours of video playback.

• iPhone 17: Up to 30 hours of video playback
• iPhone 17e: Up to 26 hours of video playback

7. A revolutionary front camera

The iPhone 17 lineup features a new 18MP Center Stage front camera with a square sensor, allowing you to take wide group/landscape photos even when holding the phone in portrait orientation. Plus, this new camera sensor adds the following features that are missing on iPhone 17e’s 12MP front camera:

• Ultra-stabilized video
• Center Stage for photos and video calls
• Dual Capture
• Tap to rotate photo

8. Better back cameras

The dual 48MP + 48MP back cameras on iPhone 17 give you these additional photography features, compared to a single 48MP camera on iPhone 17e:

• An ultra-wide (0.5x) camera to include more people or scenery in your photos
• Better image stabilization (Sensor-shift optical image stabilization vs. Optical image stabilization on 17e)
• Spatial 3D photos
• Macro photography to take super close-up shots
• Latest-generation Photographic Styles

9. More video recording options

While both the iPhone 17 and 17e can record videos in up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second and slow-motion videos in up to 1080p at 240 frames per second, paying $200 more gives you these additional tricks that are missing from the cheaper model:

• Cinematic video recording where the focus on the main and background subjects changes as it does in movies.
• Dual Capture allows recording with both the front and back cameras simultaneously and saves a single video file.
• Action mode lets you record fast-moving subjects with greater smoothness and stabilization.
• Record Spatial videos that you can watch in immersive 3D on Apple Vision Pro.
• Macro video recording.
• Improved QuickTake video at up to 4K 60fps.

10. Faster wired and wireless charging

The iPhone 17 will be better suited to you if you often forget to charge your phone every night. It can reach 50% charge in 20 minutes when you use a 40W or higher adapter. In comparison, the iPhone 17e can fast-charge to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter.

Secondly, even though the iPhone 17e now supports up to 15 watts of wireless charging (compared to 7.5 watts on the iPhone 16e), the regular iPhone 17 can fast-charge wirelessly at up to 25 watts.

11. Better wireless connectivity

iPhone 17 supports the newer Bluetooth 6 and Wi-Fi 7 specifications, while iPhone 17e is still on older Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi‑Fi 6.

Secondly, just like the thin iPhone Air, iPhone 17e does not support 5G mmWave, but iPhone 17 does.

On top of that, iPhone 17 has improved-precision dual-frequency GPS for a better overall location experience.

And if you use smart home and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, iPhone 17 supports the more reliable Thread networking technology, while 17e makes no mention of it.

One area where iPhone 17e shines is Apple’s C1X chip, which helps keep your location more private by preventing your cell carrier from knowing your exact whereabouts. This feature is not available on any other iPhone, except the iPhone Air.

12. Better AirTag and Find My tracking

iPhone 17 has Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband (U2) chip, while the iPhone 17e has the U1 chip. Compared to U1, the U2 chip has up to three times longer precision range, more precise spatial detection, and uses less battery. In short, finding your AirTags, AirPods case, and nearby Find My people is faster, more accurate, and works from farther away when using an iPhone 17 instead of iPhone 17e.

13. Camera Control button

I initially hated the Camera Control button, but after making some changes, I think it does a great job of launching the camera instantly and taking a quick photo. If you shoot lots of pictures, its addition can be handy; and you’ll find it on iPhone 17 but not iPhone 17e.

14. One additional GPU core

While both the iPhone 17 and 17e share the A19 chip, the one in the more expensive model has an extra GPU core (5 vs. 4).

15. More color options

iPhone 17 comes in five finishes: Lavender, Mist Blue, Black, White, and Sage. iPhone 17e is limited to three: White, Black, and the new Soft Pink colors.

What do you think after going through the above points?

If you had to choose, would you be willing to pay $200 more for the above upgrades?

For me, the $200 extra is worth a better high-refresh-rate screen, an extra camera, and a better battery.

You can pre-order the iPhone 17e starting today (March 4, 2026), with the first deliveries on March 11. iPhone 17 is already available with 2-hour or next-day delivery in many ZIP codes.

Also, check out:

• 9 reasons to buy the new iPhone 17e
• All about the new MacBook Neo

Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2026/03/05/iphone-17-vs-iphone-17e/

By SteveJack

Apple’s MacBook Neo, isn’t just another laptop — it’s a calculated strike at the heart of the affordable computing market. Unveiled on Wednesday, this $599 powerhouse (dropping to just $499 for education buyers) packs Apple’s signature polish into a price point that’s going to hurt the cheap Chromebook market.

For years, Chromebooks have dominated schools, budget-conscious families, and small businesses with their simplicity, low cost, and cloud-centric approach. But with the MacBook Neo’s debut, Chrome OS devices might finally be facing an existential threat. Here’s why Google’s ecosystem could be in serious trouble.

First off, let’s talk performance. Chromebooks have long been the go-to for basic tasks like web browsing, streaming, and light productivity, often powered by entry-level Intel or ARM chips. The MacBook Neo, however, flips the script with its powerful A18 Pro chip, featuring a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.

The A18 Pro is up to 50% faster for everyday tasks compared to a bestselling PC with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, and a whopping 3x faster for AI workloads like photo editing in Adobe Photoshop.

This isn’t just spec-sheet bravado; MacBook Neo is a fan-free machine that runs silently while handling multitasking, creative hobbies, and even demanding apps without breaking a sweat. Chromebooks, even the premium ones, often struggle with heavier loads or resort to noisy fans. In a world where users increasingly expect seamless AI features — like Apple’s on-device Writing Tools or Live Translation — the Neo’s Neural Engine ensures privacy-focused intelligence that Chrome OS simply can’t match at this level without relying on cloud processing, which raises security concerns.

Then there’s the build and battery life, where the MacBook Neo elevates the budget segment to premium heights. Weighing just 2.7 pounds and encased in durable aluminum with fun colors, it’s a far cry from the plastic-heavy designs of many Chromebooks.

The 13-inch Liquid Retina display boasts 500 nits of brightness and support for a billion colors, outshining the dimmer, lower-res screens on most sub-$600 Chrome OS laptops. And with up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge—tested on wireless web browsing or HD video streaming, the Neo promises all-day endurance that budget Chromebooks often promise but rarely deliver consistently.

But the real killer app here, beyond macOS, of course, is the ecosystem integration. If you’re already in Apple’s orbit—say, with an iPhone — the MacBook Neo becomes an irresistible upgrade. Features like iPhone Mirroring, Handoff, and Universal Clipboard make switching between devices effortless, turning your laptop into an extension of your phone.

Chromebooks shine in Google’s world with seamless Chrome sync and Android app support, but they lack this level of cross-device magic unless you’re all-in on me-too Android. For the over one billion iPhone users (especially students and families, the Neo’s prime targets), dipping into macOS Tahoe at this price means access to a full desktop OS with built-in apps like Pages and Safari, plus easy compatibility with third-party staples like Excel or Canva.

Chrome OS feels increasingly limited by comparison — it’s adequate for the web, but the Neo offers a true computing experience without the compromises.

Of course, Chromebooks aren’t going extinct overnight. Their rock-bottom prices (starting under $300) and ease of management make them staples in education and enterprise. But the MacBook Neo targets the same crowd — students, small business owners, and first-time Mac users — with a value proposition that’s impossible to ignore.

At $599, it’s Apple’s most affordable laptop ever, undercutting previous MacBooks while delivering superior hardware and software. If Apple can scale production and availability (pre-orders start today, with shipping on March 11), expect a market shift. Chromebook makers like Acer, Lenovo, and HP aren’t going to sleep well tonight.
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In the end, the MacBook Neo isn’t just competing; it’s redefining what “budget” means in laptops. Chromebooks have enjoyed a free ride in this niche, but Apple just forced a reckoning. If history is any guide, when Apple disrupts a category, the competition doesn’t fare well.

SteveJack is a long-time Macintosh user, web designer, multimedia producer, and a regular contributor to the MacDailyNews Opinion section.

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Source link: https://macdailynews.com/2026/03/04/apples-macbook-neo-just-made-chromebooks-obsolete/