CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple on Monday introduced the iPhone 17e, a lower-priced addition to its iPhone 17 lineup featuring the new A19 chip, upgraded cameras and increased base storage, alongside a refreshed iPad Air powered by the M4 chip.
The iPhone 17e is designed to deliver faster performance and improved durability while maintaining what the company describes as an accessible entry point into the iPhone 17 family. The device includes Apple’s latest-generation A19 chip and a new C1X cellular modem, which the company said is up to twice as fast as the C1 modem found in the iPhone 16e.
The smartphone features a 48-megapixel Fusion camera system capable of capturing high-resolution images, next-generation portrait photos and 4K Dolby Vision video. It also offers an optical-quality 2x telephoto capability, effectively functioning like a dual-camera system.
The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple said offers three times better scratch resistance than the previous generation and reduced glare. The device will be available in black, white and a new soft pink finish.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 17e begin March 4, with availability starting March 11. In India, the device starts at Rs 64,900 with 256GB of storage — double the base storage of the previous generation at the same price point.
“iPhone 17e combines powerful performance and features our users love at an exceptional value, making it a compelling option for customers looking to upgrade to the iPhone 17 family,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing.
“We know our customers want a product that will last, and iPhone 17e delivers just that. With A19 for incredible performance, double the entry storage, a smarter camera system, and enhanced durability, iPhone 17e is designed to stay fast, secure, and valuable for years to come,” Drance added.
Apple said the iPhone 17e offers all-day battery life, supported by the efficiency of Apple silicon, including the C1X modem, and advanced power management features in iOS 26.
The company also introduced a new iPad Air featuring the M4 chip and increased memory, promising a significant boost in performance at the same starting price as the previous model.
With faster CPU and GPU performance, the new iPad Air is aimed at demanding tasks such as video editing and gaming. Apple said the device includes a more powerful Neural Engine, higher memory bandwidth and 50 percent more unified system memory than the previous generation. The M4-powered iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than the M3 version and up to 2.3 times faster than models equipped with the M1 chip.
The new iPad Air also incorporates Apple’s latest connectivity chips, N1 and C1X, and supports Wi-Fi 7 for faster wireless performance.
In India, pricing for the new iPad Air starts at Rs 64,900 for the 11-inch model and Rs 84,900 for the 13-inch model. Education pricing begins at Rs 59,900 for the 11-inch version and Rs 79,900 for the 13-inch model.
Pre-orders for the new iPad Air begin March 4, with availability starting March 11.
“iPad Air gives users more ways than ever to be creative and productive, offering powerful performance and incredible versatility to help them turn their ideas into reality,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. (Source: IANS)
