Apple on Monday launched the iPhone 17e, a latest, more affordable model intended to broaden the reach of its artificial intelligence features and challenge competitors in the mid-range smartphone market. The launch, announced in Cupertino, California, marks the beginning of what Apple has described as a “big week” of product announcements, with further details expected to be revealed on Wednesday.
The key innovation driving the iPhone 17e is the inclusion of the A19 processor. This marks a departure from Apple’s typical practice of equipping its “e” series phones – successors to the SE line – with older generation chips. The decision to integrate the latest silicon, manufactured using a second-generation 3-nanometer process (N3P), is directly linked to the demands of running Google’s Gemini AI models, which power the advanced functionalities of Apple Intelligence.
According to Apple, the A19’s 16-core Neural Engine is essential for the smooth execution of Gemini 3 and background tasks. Without it, the processing of natural language locally would be too slow to deliver the desired “instant responses.” The iPhone 17e will be available in Portugal starting at a price of 739 euros for the base 256GB model, a reduction of 250 euros compared to the standard iPhone 17, which shares the same processor. The doubling of base storage to 256GB is attributed to the increased storage requirements of the new AI models, which necessitate larger local libraries and data indexing.
The launch of the iPhone 17e solidifies a partnership between Apple and Google, formalized in January. While Apple’s “Pro” models remain focused on high-complete technology, the 17e is designed to make generative AI accessible to a wider audience, including students and professionals seeking efficiency without a premium price tag. Gemini functions as the core of Siri 2.0, internally known as project “Campos.”
This integration translates to a significantly enhanced Siri experience, with “screen awareness” capabilities allowing it to interact with third-party applications and perform complex reasoning tasks previously reliant on cloud connectivity. Users can, for example, request the device to locate a dinner receipt in Mail and add the amount to an expense spreadsheet – a task Gemini processes by integrating visual and textual context. Apple emphasizes that, through its Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, the “intelligence” originates from Google, while “privacy” remains within the Apple ecosystem, with user data processed securely on servers that do not retain information.
The arrival of the iPhone 17e presents Portuguese consumers with a new choice. The 512GB version of the iPhone 17e is priced at 989 euros, the same as the 256GB standard iPhone 17, forcing a consideration of priorities: storage capacity versus advanced componentry.
Despite the inclusion of the A19 chip, the iPhone 17e does feature some compromises compared to the standard model. It retains the traditional “notch” design and a screen limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. The standard iPhone 17 offers the smoother visuals of a 120Hz ProMotion display and the versatility of the Dynamic Island. The iPhone 17e lacks an Ultra Wide lens – limited to a single 48MP sensor with optical zoom – and omits the new physical “Action” button found on the standard model, delineating the difference between practical economy and technological luxury.
