It’s been a stellar few months for the iPhone. Back in September last year, Apple released its new iPhone 17 model, which is easy to recommend thanks to an improved ProMotion screen, extra storage and an impressive A19 chip that breezes through tasks like a hot knife in butter. A new, ludicrously skinny iPhone Air and an eye-catching 17 Pro – with standout Cosmic Orange design – also grabbed headlines and created one of the best Apple lineups we’ve seen in a while.

Now the US firm is back with an additional update to its iPhone, and it’s another belter.

I’ve been testing out the iPhone 17e since it was unveiled earlier in March, and it fixes many of the gripes I had with its iPhone 16e predecessor, which arrived last February.

For a pretty reasonable price of £599, you now get a phone with a faster and more capable A19 processor,, a bright 6.1-inch screen with more durable Ceramic Shield Glass 2 and double the storage – that means there’s a generous 256GB as standard.

Perhaps the thing that’s pleased me most is the inclusion of MagSafe technology, which is now built into the iPhone 17e.

It was a strange omission from the 16e, and it’s nice to see it feature on this new device. With MagSafe inside, the 17e is not only more convenient to charge wirelessly, but also lets you snap accessories, such as wallets, to the rear of the case.

MagSafe is something I use every single day, and it never made any sense that Apple left it off the 16e.

Another boost inside the 17e is the inclusion of Apple’s latest C1X modem, which makes mobile download speeds around twice as fast whilst using less power. That’s good news when streaming movies and downloading files away from fixed-line Wi-Fi.

Just like the 16e, the iPhone 17e can send text messages when you have no signal via space satellite connectivity, and it includes life-saving Crash Detection, which calls emergency services after an accident.

On the rear case, there’s a single Fusion camera that snaps decent photographs and even offers extras such as 2X zoom, portrait mode and low light settings.

If video is what you are looking for, then the 17e records in full 4K and offers extras such as Spatial Audio – to make things sound more immersive – auto Noise Reduction, and Apple’s clever Audio Mix function for a more Hollywood feel to your home movies.

This camera can’t match the might of the iPhone 17 Pro, but, as you can see from my test images below, it still snaps decent Instagram-ready images with plenty of colour and detail.

It’s also nice to see the customisable Action Button back, letting you access features like the torch and camera or switching on settings such as Focus or Silent modes without digging into endless menus.

Although the 17e misses out on Apple’s Dynamic Island technology, Face ID is tucked inside the classic notch at the top of the screen, which lets you unlock things quickly and securely, and you can make contactless Apple Pay payments without a password.

Battery life is decent, with it easily lasting a day plus there’s pretty quick charging should it run low on power.

Despite the lower price, it gets Apple’s usual premium feel thanks to lashings of aerospace-grade aluminium and frosted glass.

There’s clearly plenty to like about the iPhone 17e, but a few things are missing.

It only gets a 60Hz display, which isn’t as slick to use as the screen now found on the iPhone 17.

Although the single camera is good, there’s no wide-angle option, zoom is limited to just 2X “optical quality”, and you won’t find a dedicated shutter button on the side of the device.

Apple has added a soft pink shade this year, but if you want extra colour options, you’ll need to spend more and buy the £799 iPhone 17.

It’s worth noting that the previous 16e is now £100 less than when it launched, which means you can grab one for £499.

I personally don’t think it’s worth buying that older call maker – even at that discounted price – as it’s missing those substantial upgrades now found on the iPhone 17e.

Of course, £599 for a phone still isn’t that cheap, and some Android fans will boast their devices feature similar (or even better) features at a lower price.

For example, Nothing’s new Phone 4a gets triple cameras, a fast Snapdragon chip, rapid charging and a bright 6.7-inch screen for just £349.

That said, Apple devices tend to hold their value better and will always command a higher price when traded in for something new.

I’d still recommend the iPhone 17 over the 17e, as it’s the best non-Pro smartphone Apple has ever made.

However, if your budget simply won’t stretch that far, then the 17e is now a solid choice.

It’s fast, gets MagSafe technology, more storage, decent battery life and a tougher design that should last years in your pocket.

Apple’s iPhone lineup is now even better, and fans have some very tough choices to make when walking into the firm’s famous stores.