Apple has announced a new major event in March, and one of the products that is rumoured to be coming is the iPhone 17e, a possible upgrade of Apple’s budget handset. While there aren’t any confirmed specs, the grapevine is suggesting that it won’t be much of an upgrade over the iPhone 16e, with only minor additions like MagSafe and a Dynamic Island.
If that’s true, I think there’s no point waiting for the iPhone 17e and the iPhone 16e for just AU$797 is the better buy. That’s 20% off its RRP of AU$999, making it an even more affordable entry into the Apple ecosystem or a modern upgrade if you’re coming from an older iPhone. It’s also the lowest price I’ve seen on the iPhone 16e, last seen during Boxing Day 2025 sales in Australia.
While it might miss out on some premium features, the iPhone 16e is still powered by Apple’s A18 chip found in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, as well as the C1 modem that improves 5G and satellite connectivity while taking up less space inside.
While it doesn’t have MagSafe for attaching to magnetic mounts, it still supports wireless charging, while wired charging is rated up to 27W.
The iPhone 16e is a very capable iPhone and the cheapest way to get Apple Intelligence. You won’t see the iPhone 17e this cheap for a long time, so jump on this now while stocks last.
If you’re interested in getting the iPhone 16e through a telco, you can check our guide of the best iPhone 16e plans, but for some of Apple’s more premium offerings, you can check out our best iPhone 17 plans, best iPhone Air plans, and the best iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max plans.
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