The cheapest iPhone is available in Czechia from today! It offers top performance and finally, magnets too

The wait is over – from today, you can buy the most affordable new-generation iPhone in Czechia. iPhone 17e is available on Alza from 16,990 CZK for the 256GB version. Apple kept the price of last year’s model but doubled the storage and added MagSafe – two things that were noticeably missing from its predecessor. Availability and variants can be found in the product detail on Alza.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense if you’re upgrading from an older iPhone (SE, 11, 12) and want a modern iPhone with an A19 chip, MagSafe, and 256 GB without spending over 20,000.
⚠️ Consider carefully if you care about a 120Hz display, Dynamic Island, or an ultrawide camera – these will only be offered by iPhone 17 for 22,990 CZK.
💡 For 16,990 CZK you get the same chip as in iPhone 17, double the storage compared to its predecessor, MagSafe, and Ceramic Shield 2

What’s new compared to iPhone 16e

The design remains practically the same – a 6.1″ OLED display with the old notch, an aluminum frame, a single 48Mpx camera on the back. The changes are under the hood. The A19 chip is about 15% faster than the A18 in its predecessor and is on par with the standard iPhone 17 in terms of performance. MagSafe finally enables magnetic charging (15 W instead of 7.5 W) and a whole ecosystem of magnetic accessories – cases, wallets, stands. The front glass Ceramic Shield 2 is three times more scratch-resistant. The C1X modem offers up to twice as fast 5G. And storage starts at 256 GB – with iPhone 16e, it was 128 GB for the same price.

What the first reviews say

Foreign reviewers agree: MagSafe and doubled storage are two upgrades that make the iPhone 17e a significantly more complete phone. TechRadar rates it 4.5 out of 5 and praises its all-day battery life, fast A19 chip, and improved portrait mode. CNN Underscored calls MagSafe a “huge” change. The Verge recommends considering the extra cost for the standard iPhone 17 with a 120Hz display and a second camera – but acknowledges that the iPhone 17e is perfectly sufficient for most people. Compared to the competing Pixel 10a, the 17e offers a significantly faster processor and probably longer battery life, but the Pixel has better AI features, a second camera, a 120Hz display, and is 3,500 cheaper.

Who it’s worth it for and who it’s not

The iPhone 17e for 16,990 CZK is an ideal upgrade for owners of older iPhones – from SE through iPhone 11 up to 13. You get a modern design, a significantly faster chip, a better camera, and MagSafe. However, if you have an iPhone 16e and don’t miss MagSafe or more storage, the upgrade doesn’t make much sense – the hardware is otherwise very similar. And if you can afford the iPhone 17 (22,990 CZK), you’ll get a 120Hz display, Dynamic Island, and an ultrawide camera – which is a noticeable leap in daily experience for many.

If you’re also interested in Android competition, check out our recent article about the Google Pixel 9a for 9,490 CZK – for a significantly lower price, it offers a comparable camera and 7 years of updates.

Are you upgrading to iPhone 17e, or waiting for iPhone 17? Let us know in the comments.