Highlights
- The iPhone 17e’s A19 chip delivers nearly identical CPU performance to the standard iPhone 17.
- The iPhone 17e uses a 4-core GPU compared to the iPhone 17’s 5-core GPU.
- Compared to iPhone 16e, 17e adds MagSafe support, Apple’s C1X modem for faster 5G and doubles base storage to 256GB.
Pre-orders for the newly launched iPhone 17e began on March 4 and the device is scheduled to go on sale starting March 11. Meanwhile, early benchmark scores for the smartphone have appeared on the Geekbench 6 database, providing an early indication of the performance offered by Apple’s latest A-series chipset.
The benchmark results give a clearer picture of how the device performs compared with the standard iPhone 17.
According to the benchmark listing, the highest multi-core CPU score recorded for the iPhone 17e so far is 9,241. This figure is almost identical to the performance seen on the iPhone 17, which has an average multi-core score of 9,249 when powered by the same Apple A19 chip.
However, there is a small difference between the two devices. While both smartphones use the A19 processor, the iPhone 17e is equipped with a 4-core GPU, compared to the 5-core GPU included in the standard iPhone 17.
Because of this change, the graphics performance of the device is slightly lower. Early benchmark tests show Metal scores for the iPhone 17e ranging between 31,000 and 31,500. In comparison, the iPhone 17 typically reaches around 37,000 in the same graphics benchmark.
Despite this difference, most users are unlikely to notice a major gap in real-world graphics performance between the two models.
For reference, the previous-generation iPhone 16e, which runs on the Apple A18 chip, also features a 4-core GPU.
In terms of design, the iPhone 17e keeps the same overall look as its predecessor. However, it introduces several upgrades, including the newer Apple A19 chip, support for MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and accessories and Apple’s second-generation Apple C1X modem for faster 5G connectivity.
Another key improvement is the increased base storage, which has been doubled to 256GB. In the United States, the iPhone 17e starts at $599, matching the launch price of the iPhone 16e.
FAQs
Q1. How does the iPhone 17e’s performance compare to the standard iPhone 17?
Answer. Both devices use the A19 chip and deliver nearly identical CPU performance, with Geekbench multi-core scores around 9,241 for the 17e and 9,249 for the 17.
Q2. What is the main difference between the iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 in terms of graphics?
Answer. The iPhone 17e has a 4-core GPU, while the iPhone 17 features a 5-core GPU. This results in slightly lower graphics benchmark scores for the 17e (≈31,000–31,500 vs. ≈37,000).
Q3. What upgrades does the iPhone 17e offer compared to the iPhone 16e?
Answer. The iPhone 17e introduces the A19 chip, MagSafe support, Apple’s C1X modem for faster 5G, and doubles the base storage to 256GB, while keeping the same $599 launch price in the U.S.