This is the English edition of a video from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so prices are Japanese Apple Store prices and product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
The iPhone 17e is a real step up from the 16e, but if you are buying now, I would pick the regular iPhone 17. In Japan the 17 costs ¥30,000 more, yet on Apple’s own instalment plan its monthly payment was actually lower, and it adds an ultra-wide camera, Camera Control, ProMotion and the Center Stage front camera.
What I compared
- iPhone 17e (256GB) against iPhone 17 (256GB), the day after the 17e was announced
- Prices and instalment plans shown on Apple’s Japanese online store at the time of recording
- Features that matter in daily use, partly from my own experience with the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro
What I found
- Price: ¥99,800 for the 17e and ¥129,800 for the 17 (256GB, Apple Japan, at the time of recording).
- Monthly cost: Apple Japan offered the 17e over 24 months at ¥4,158 and the 17 over 36 months at ¥3,605, so the 17 was cheaper per month.
- The 17e finally gets MagSafe, 15W wireless charging (double the 16e), Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and 256GB as the base storage.
- It has a single rear camera: no ultra-wide, no macro, no spatial video. For me the ultra-wide matters more than a telephoto.
- No Camera Control, a notch instead of the Dynamic Island, a 6.1-inch screen without ProMotion, and four hours less video playback than the 17.
- The 17e is about 8g lighter. That is the only spec where it clearly wins.
| iPhone 17e | iPhone 17 | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Price (256GB, Japan) | ¥99,800 | ¥129,800 |
| Display | 6.1-inch | 6.3-inch, ProMotion |
| Top of screen | Notch | Dynamic Island |
| Rear cameras | 1 (main only) | 2 (with ultra-wide) |
| Camera Control | No | Yes |
| Front camera | Standard | Center Stage |
| MagSafe charging | Up to 15W | Up to 25W |
| Video playback | 4 hours shorter than 17 | 4 hours longer than 17e |
Who it’s for
If this will be your only phone, get the iPhone 17: it is the one you can comfortably keep for three or four years. The 17e makes sense as a second iPhone for work, or if a carrier discount opens up a much bigger price gap. If you already have an iPhone and want a second phone, I also think an Android phone such as a Pixel is an interesting alternative.
The video is in Japanese. Useful points: around 1:00 the price and instalment comparison, around 9:30 a demo of the Center Stage front camera, and around 11:10 why I want an ultra-wide camera.
Limitations
This is a spec and price comparison made the day after the announcement; I had not used an iPhone 17e myself. Prices and instalment plans are Japanese and may differ in your country. Battery figures are Apple’s published video playback numbers.
Products
Apple iPhone 17 (SIM-free): on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan link above is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Phones (10) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.