As an Apple convert, getting my hands on anything from Apple still gets me excited. My first real Apple device was an iPhone 6 from work back in 2015, paired with a MacBook Air. I used that phone for seven years straight until apps started refusing to work properly. After that, I moved to an iPhone SE, but even then, I tend to keep my phones way longer than most people do.
So using the new iPhone 17e feels like finally catching up after staying on older ones for a while.
Here are my first impressions.
The first thing I noticed is it just feels familiar, but still new. Does it make sense? If you’ve used an iPhone before, you’ll know your way around it instantly. The screen is bright and easy to see even outside, and scrolling through apps or social media feels smooth and normal, not something you have to think about.
Where you really notice the difference is speed (as always). Everything just opens faster. Apps don’t hang, switching between things feels instant, and even when you push it a bit, it doesn’t lag in annoying ways. It’s the kind of thing you only appreciate when you’ve used a slower phone before.
Disclosure, I never used my iPhones on games but after I’ve had a peek into the graphics of mobile games in the iPhone 17e, I knew I had to try it.
The camera is also better in a very “real life” way. Photos come out sharper without you needing to do anything special. The 2x zoom is actually useful for casual shots, not just something to ignore. Videos look steady and clean, even if you’re just recording everyday moments.
I know iPhone cameras have been compared (and mocked) with other smartphone cameras. But there is one thing that I really love about the iPhone: it just looks natural. Yes, it may be lacking in some aspects, but in my book, for images to look as natural as possible is a win.
Battery life is debatable, though. As I mentioned, I never used my iPhones for intensive work so it lasted that long. But I had issues with its battery life. So, I will have to see this one, though, for a longer period before I give my thoughts.
iPhone 17e is now available for purchase. At ₱44,990 for 256GB, it is a very straightforward phone ideal for everyday use. Its clean design is deceiving because of how much power it holds. The full review in a few weeks as I want to fully immerse myself into this new phone.
