Just like last year’s iPhone 16E, Apple’s newly announced iPhone 17E is poised as an entry-level addition to the iPhone lineup.
Starting at $599, the 17E has quite a few upgrades over the 16E: double the base storage at 256GB, an upgraded A19 processor and MagSafe compatibility.
Watch this: iPhone 17E Packs More Features for the Same $599 Price
Apple isn’t the only mobile company to offer entry-level handsets. Samsung and Google have their own budget handhelds.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE (starts at $650 for 128GB) and Google’s brand-new Pixel 10A (starts at $499 for 128GB). With appealing designs and solid features, all three handsets are compelling, affordable alternatives to their more expensive siblings.
Here’s how the iPhone 17E compares against the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE and the Google Pixel 10A.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE.
Display and design
Apple’s iPhone 17E has the smallest screen of the trio with a 6.1-inch OLED display. Google’s Pixel 10A isn’t much bigger with its 6.3-inch screen. The 6.7-inch AMOLED on the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE makes it the largest of the lot.
The iPhone 17E also doesn’t earn points for its 60Hz refresh rate, especially compared to the 120Hz displays on the Pixel 10A and the Galaxy S25 FE, which offer smoother scrolling and more responsive gameplay. However, it will be less noticeable if you’re coming from a non-Pro iPhone 16 or earlier.
If you want a small and lightweight phone, though, the iPhone 17E has the others beat. Weighing in at just 5.88 ounces (167 grams), it’s lighter than the Pixel 10A at 6.5 ounces (183 grams) and a lot lighter than the Galaxy S25 FE at 6.7 ounces (190 grams).
The iPhone 17E has a 6.1-inch display, which is smaller than both the Pixel 10A (6.3 inches) and the Galaxy S25 FE (6.7 inches).
Cameras
The iPhone 17E has only one 48-megapixel camera, compared to the two on the base iPhone 17. Much like the 16E, the 17E mitigates the lack of a second camera by using sensor cropping to get 2x magnification.
The other entry-level phones definitely do better on the camera front. The Pixel 10A has a 48-megapixel wide and a 13-megapixel ultrawide, while the Galaxy S25 FE has a 50-megapixel wide, a 12-megapixel ultrawide and an 8-megapixel 3x telephoto.
All three phones have similar front-facing cameras. The iPhone 17E has a 12-megapixel selfie shooter, the Pixel 10A has a 13-megapixel one and the Galaxy S25 FE has a 12-megapixel one.
A single 48-megapixel wide camera is on the back of the iPhone 17E.
Price, storage, processor and battery
While the iPhone 16E has a base storage of 128GB, the iPhone 17E has double that with 256GB. The Pixel 10A starts at 128GB for $499, but its 256GB model has the same $599 price as the iPhone 17E. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE’s base 128GB is quite a bit more expensive at $650, while its 256GB version is priced at $710. That said, you might be able to get the S25 FE on sale from select retailers.
The iPhone 17E is powered by Apple’s latest A19 processor (quad-core instead of the five-core on the base iPhone 17), while the Pixel 10A ships with Google’s Tensor G4 and the Galaxy S25 FE uses Samsung’s Exynos 2400.
The Pixel 10A’s two rear cameras are inside a flush island on the back of the phone.
The iPhone 17E has the smallest battery of the lot, with a 4,005-mAh capacity. The Pixel 10A, on the other hand, has a 5,100-mAh battery while the Galaxy S25 FE has a 4,900-mAh battery.
All three have some form of wireless charging. The iPhone 17E supports MagSafe and Qi2 charging up to 15W, and the Pixel 10A has 10W wireless charging. The Galaxy S25 FE also supports 15W wireless charging and is said to be Qi2 Ready, which means it doesn’t have Qi2 magnets, but you can use it with third-party magnetic cases.
Check out the chart below to further compare Apple’s iPhone 17E against Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE and Google’s Pixel 10A.
Apple iPhone 17E vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, Google Pixel 10A
| Apple iPhone 17E | Samsung Galaxy S25 FE | Google Pixel 10A | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED display; 2,532×1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate | 6.7-inch AMOLED, 2,340×1,080 pixels; 120Hz refresh rate | 6.3-inch POLED, 2,424×1,080 pixels, 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 385 ppi | 422 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 5.78×2.82×0.31 | 6.4x3x0.3 | 6.1×2.9×0.4 |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 146.7×71.5×7.8 | 161.3×76.6×7.4 | 154.7×73.3×8.9 |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 167g (5.88 oz.) | 190 g (6.7 oz) | 183 g (6.5 oz) |
| Mobile software | iOS 26 | Android 16 | Android 16 |
| Camera | 48-megapixel (wide) | 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 8-megapixel (3x telephoto) | 48-megapixel (wide), 13-megapixel (ultrawide) |
| Front-facing camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 13-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 8K | 4K |
| Processor | Apple A19 | Samsung Exynos 2400 | Google Tensor G4 |
| RAM + storage | RAM unknown + 256GB, 512GB | 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB | 8GB + 128GB, 256GB |
| Expandable storage | None | None | None |
| Battery | 4,005 mAh | 4,900 mAh | 5,100 mAh |
| Fingerprint sensor | None, Face ID | Under display | Under display |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None | None |
| Special features | MagSafe, Qi2 charging (up to 15W), Action button, Apple C1 5G modem, Apple Intelligence, Ceramic Shield, Emergency SOS, satellite connectivity, IP68 resistance | 1,900-nit peak brightness, 7 years of OS and security updates, 5G (mmWave), IP68 water and dust resistance, wireless PowerShare to charge other devices, 45W wired charging (charger not included), Galaxy AI, Wi-Fi 6E | 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops, Gorilla Glass 3 cover glass, IP68 dust and water resistance, 3,000-nit peak brightness, 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 30W fast charging with 45W charging adapter (charger not included), 10W wireless charging Qi certified, Satellite SOS, Wi-Fi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 6, dual-SIM (nano SIM + eSIM), Camera Coach, Add Me, Best Take, Magic Eraser, Magic Editor, Photo Unblur, Super Res Zoom, Circle to Search; colors: lavender, berry, fog, obsidian (black) |
| US price starts at | $599 (256GB) | $650 (128GB), $710 (256GB) | $499 (128GB) |
Read the full article here