Apple has introduced its newest smartphone, the iPhone 17e, which is now available for pre-order at a cost of just pennies per day. The tech company unveiled this addition to its affordable ‘e’ series on Monday, describing it as a budget-friendly alternative to the flagship iPhone 17, priced at £599 – £200 less.
Despite its lower price, the iPhone 17e offers impressive features such as fast performance, an advanced camera system, Artificial Intelligence capabilities, and a starting storage of 256GB, double that of its predecessor. Pre-orders for this device are currently open ahead of its March 11 release, with Sky Mobile providing a special deal of 61p per day for early orders.
When opting for one of Sky’s monthly contracts, the iPhone 17e 256GB model can be obtained for £19 with a £12 upfront payment, translating to around 61p per day over a 31-day period. Additionally, the 512GB variant is priced at £25 with a £12 upfront cost, equating to roughly 80p per day. Apple has also introduced a new ‘soft pink’ color option alongside the traditional black and white choices.
Sky Mobile is offering the iPhone 17e at £19 per month or 61p per day for pre-orders placed before March 10. It’s important to note that Sky’s contracts run for 36 months but allow customers to upgrade to a new device from 24 months at no extra charge. These contracts include a 100MB data allowance, which may not be sufficient for most users who should consider opting for a larger data bundle.
Competitors like Mobiles.co.uk have revealed their pricing as well, with iD Mobile offering free AirPods 4 with a 500GB tariff at £35.99 per month and £9 upfront. For those preferring to pay upfront, prices are generally consistent across different retailers, with outlets like Amazon and Argos selling the iPhone 17e at £599.
The iPhone 17e follows Apple’s initial ‘e’ model, the iPhone 16e, by a year and has seen significant upgrades, including the doubled storage capacity at the same price point. Powered by Apple’s latest-generation A19 processor, similar to the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17e offers premium features such as a 48MP Fusion camera, 4K Dolby Vision video recording, iOS 26 software, and advanced Apple Intelligence capabilities.
With a 6.1” Super Retina XDR display strengthened by Ceramic Shield 2 for enhanced durability, the iPhone 17e boasts a battery life of up to 26 hours of video playback, slightly less than the standard iPhone 17. Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, Kaiann Drance, emphasized the device’s performance, storage, camera system, and durability, positioning it as a long-lasting and valuable option for customers seeking to upgrade to the iPhone 17 family.