Tech news 2026: Tech giant Apple, in a move to shake up the premium mid-range smartphone segment, unveiled its highly pocket-friendly handset in the iPhone 17 series, the ‘iPhone 17e.’ The handset was launched in India and other global markets on Monday evening, and is the successor to last year’s iPhone 16e. The new model boasts a faster processor, upgraded modem and a refined camera, hinting towards a significant leap in efficiency and performance. [caption id="attachment_444" align="alignnone" width="1200"]
Tech news 2026[/caption]Design, performance, design
The phone dons a 6.1 Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and peak HDR brightness of 1200 nits. It has retained the notch design, and is equipped with Ceramic Shield 2 protection, which, as per Apple, offers improved resistance to scratches. An IP68 rating has been conferred on the handset, and it also features an aerospace-grade aluminium frame.
The phone has much to offer to those fond of gaming, as it sports a 4-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing for enhanced gaming visuals. Meanwhile, a 16-core Neural Engine powers Apple Intelligence and generative AI tools.
Camera and battery details
For the photography enthusiasts, the device houses a single 48-megapixel fusion rear camera, offering a 2x optical-quality zoom via sensor cropping. The owners would be able to shoot 24MP images by default, and will also be able to capture 48MP photos. The phone also supports 4k Dolby Vision video recording at 60 fps, paired with Spatial Audio capture.
The phone is powered by a new C1X modem, which promises faster connectivity, along with improved power efficiency. Additionally, the phone supports 5G, offers a day-long battery life, and enables 50% charging in a period of 30 minutes via USB-C.
Price in India
The iPhone 17e starts at Rs 64,900 in India and is available in 256GB and 512GB variants. Buyers can choose from a range of Black, White and Soft Pink finishes, along with MagSafe-compatible cases and trade-in offers.