Apple just dropped two big “most people will actually buy this” updates: the new iPhone 17e and a refreshed iPad Air powered by M4. Pre-orders start March 4, and both devices hit stores March 11.
iPhone 17e: the affordable iPhone 17 that doesn’t feel “basic”
The iPhone 17e is positioned as the most affordable entry into the iPhone 17 family, starting at $599, and the big headline is that it now starts at 256GB instead of the old base storage tier.
Here’s what stands out:
- A19 chip (3nm) for faster performance, including Apple Intelligence features and smoother gaming.
- C1X Apple modem, which Apple says is up to 2x faster than the previous C1 in iPhone 16e.
- 48MP Fusion camera with an “optical-quality” 2x Telephoto option, plus improved portraits that can save depth data automatically for people, dogs, and cats.
- 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED) with Ceramic Shield 2 for better scratch resistance and less glare.
- MagSafe is back on the “e” model, with Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W.
- Satellite features (Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, Find My via satellite) when you’re off-grid, plus Crash Detection.
Colors are black, white, and soft pink, with a matte finish. Storage options: 256GB or 512GB.
New iPad Air with M4: faster, more memory, and better “laptop mode”
The updated iPad Air gets the M4 chip and more memory while keeping the same starting prices: $599 (11-inch) and $799 (13-inch).
The practical upgrades:
- M4 performance jump: Apple says up to 30% faster than M3 iPad Air and up to 2.3x faster than M1 iPad Air.
- More unified memory: it bumps up to 12GB, plus faster memory bandwidth for heavier multitasking and AI workflows.
- New connectivity chips: N1 adds Wi-Fi 7, and cellular models get C1X for faster data and better efficiency.
- Two sizes (11 and 13) and four colors: blue, purple, starlight, space gray.
It also supports Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard (with a function row and trackpad), so it’s clearly aimed at people who want iPad to replace a laptop more often.
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26: the real story is how these feel day to day
Both launches lean hard into Apple’s new software look with Liquid Glass, plus Apple Intelligence updates. On iPad, iPadOS 26 also adds a more powerful windowing system, a new menu bar, and a Preview app for PDFs and markup, which is huge if you live in documents.
Which one should you buy?
- Get iPhone 17e if you want the best value iPhone with modern performance, MagSafe, a strong camera, and lots of storage for $599.
- Get iPad Air (M4) if you multitask, edit, study, or create and want that “fast like a Mac” feeling without paying iPad Pro prices ($599 ot Apple).
