Apple Unveils Budget-Friendly iPhone 17e and M4-Powered iPad Air
Apple commenced a significant week of product launches on Monday, March 2, 2026, with the introduction of two key devices: the budget-conscious iPhone 17e and a refreshed iPad Air. The iPhone 17e, starting at $599, is positioned as a more accessible model within the iPhone 17 lineup. It features the same A19 processor as its pricier counterpart but makes concessions with a smaller screen, a single rear camera, and the absence of the Dynamic Island. However, it gains notable upgrades over its predecessor, including MagSafe compatibility and a faster C1X 5G modem, which is touted as being twice as fast and more energy-efficient than previous models. To sweeten the deal, Apple is offering new customers three free months of subscriptions to services like Apple Arcade, Fitness+, Music, News+, and Apple TV+, with availability varying by region. The other headline announcement was the new iPad Air, which receives a substantial performance boost from Apple's latest M4 chip, marking a significant generational leap. The updated tablet also comes with increased memory and enhanced wireless connectivity, including support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread technology, making it more versatile than ever. The launch of these two products sets the stage for a week filled with further announcements from the tech giant. According to industry analysts, the story behind the iPhone 17e is not just its competitive $599 price point, which remains unchanged from the previous model, but the value Apple has managed to incorporate without increasing cost. This strategic move comes as flagship smartphone prices continue to climb, allowing Apple to cater to a broader market. The week is expected to continue with more reveals, including a rumored budget MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, potentially in new colors like green and yellow, indicating Apple's focused push to strengthen its portfolio across multiple price segments.
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The iPhone 17e, which starts at $599, is a pared-back version of the pricier iPhone 17. The phone has the same processor but a slightly smaller screen. It also has one camera instead of two and lacks the Dynamic Island bar for showing information from apps. The device launches March 11.
The company's new iPhone 17e arrives with a familiar $599 price tag, but the story here isn't about cost - it's about what Apple managed to pack in without raising the entry price. The timing tells you everything. While flagship phones keep creeping toward four-figure price tags, Apple's keeping the 17e exactly where the 16e launched ...
Apple opened its week of product launches on Monday morning with a refreshed low-cost iPhone and a faster iPad Air. The headline device is the new iPhone 17e, a cheaper model in the iPhone 17 lineup that starts at $599.
Apple March event LIVE: iPhone 17e, iPad Air M4 and every big announcement | Tom's Guide
Apple has kicked off a week of product launches with the new iPhone 17e and iPad Air with M4 chip, and more devices are on the way. Tim Cook even took to X to tease a “big week ahead,” and he definitely wasn't kidding, as Apple kicked off today (March 2) with the iPhone 17e and iPad Air. There's still plenty more to get excited about as the week rolls on, from the budget MacBook with A18 Pro (coming in playful green and yellow colors), to any other devices and software news ...
One bit of good news is that the iPhone 17e has the C1X modem from the iPhone Air. This 5G modem is twice as fast as the Apple-designed C1 that launched with the iPhone 16e, and purportedly more energy efficient than Qualcomm's modems inside the iPhone 17 series.
The news started on Monday with the announcements of the iPhone 17e and M4-powered iPad Air. We’ll be updating this roundup throughout the week as we learn exactly what Apple has in store for everyone (though we have a decent idea of what to expect, such as new MacBooks).
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