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Prices checked October 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: 128GB of base storage, and switching means leaving iMessage and FaceTime behind.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Apple iPhone 17e is the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, about $650 instead of $699 (save 7%). What you give up: 128GB of base storage, and switching means leaving iMessage and FaceTime behind. The cheapest is the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G at about $490. Prices checked October 2026.
Why it's a good swap Bigger 6.7-inch 120Hz screen, an 8MP telephoto camera the 17e lacks and up to 7 OS upgrades, per Samsung.
You give up: 128GB of base storage, and switching means leaving iMessage and FaceTime behind.
Why it's a good swap 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen, a 5,000mAh battery, IP68 and 6 OS upgrades, per Samsung.
You give up: Mid-range Exynos 1480 chip with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and no iMessage or FaceTime.
Why it's a good swap 6.3-inch screen up to 120Hz, a 48MP main plus 13MP ultrawide camera, IP68 and 7 years of updates, per Google.
You give up: 128GB instead of 256GB, an older Tensor G4 chip, and no iMessage or FaceTime.
Why it's a good swap Adds a 12MP Ultra Wide camera and faster MagSafe charging, with a new battery, new outer shell and a one-year warranty from Apple.
You give up: Older A18 chip, half the storage (128GB) and up to 22 hours of video playback vs 26.
Why it's a good swap A 3x telephoto camera, a 120Hz ProMotion screen and a titanium design, refurbished by Apple.
You give up: Older A17 Pro chip, 128GB of storage and up to 23 hours of video playback vs 26.
Typical US prices, checked October 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Apple iPhone 17e? It usually sells for about $699. Here are 5 cheaper swaps from $490: the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is the closest match from another brand, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro (Apple Certified Refurbished) is a cheaper option from Apple and the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G is the cheapest at about $490. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 17e | The original | $699 | – | – | View ↗ |
| Samsung Galaxy A37 5G | Budget pick | $490 | $209 (30%) | Mid-range Exynos 1480 chip with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and no iMessage or FaceTime. | View ↗ |
| Google Pixel 10a | Close match | $599 | $100 (14%) | 128GB instead of 256GB, an older Tensor G4 chip, and no iMessage or FaceTime. | View ↗ |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 FE | Close match | $650 | $49 (7%) | 128GB of base storage, and switching means leaving iMessage and FaceTime behind. | View ↗ |
| Apple iPhone 16 (Apple Certified Refurbished) | Same brand, cheaper | $659 | $40 (6%) | Older A18 chip, half the storage (128GB) and up to 22 hours of video playback vs 26. | Not on Amazon |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro (Apple Certified Refurbished) | Same brand, cheaper | $679 | $20 (3%) | Older A17 Pro chip, 128GB of storage and up to 23 hours of video playback vs 26. | Not on Amazon |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The Samsung Galaxy A37 5G, at about $490 (30% less). 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen, a 5,000mAh battery, IP68 and 6 OS upgrades, per Samsung. The catch: Mid-range Exynos 1480 chip with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and no iMessage or FaceTime.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, at about $650 (7% less). Bigger 6.7-inch 120Hz screen, an 8MP telephoto camera the 17e lacks and up to 7 OS upgrades, per Samsung. The catch: 128GB of base storage, and switching means leaving iMessage and FaceTime behind.
Yes. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro (Apple Certified Refurbished), at about $679 (3% less). A 3x telephoto camera, a 120Hz ProMotion screen and a titanium design, refurbished by Apple. The catch: Older A17 Pro chip, 128GB of storage and up to 23 hours of video playback vs 26.
Both use Apple's A19 chip and start with 256GB. Apple lists the iPhone 17 with a bigger 6.3-inch ProMotion screen up to 120Hz, a second 48MP Ultra Wide camera, an 18MP Center Stage front camera, up to 30 hours of video playback and MagSafe up to 25W. The 17e has a 6.1-inch screen, one 48MP rear camera, a 12MP front camera, up to 26 hours of video and MagSafe up to 15W. The 17e is $699 and the iPhone 17 is $899.
It depends on the camera. Apple's refurbished iPhone 16 128GB is $659 and adds a 12MP Ultra Wide camera, and Apple says its refurbished iPhones get a new battery and outer shell plus a one-year warranty. You give up the 17e's newer A19 chip, half the storage (128GB vs 256GB) and some battery life (up to 22 hours of video vs 26).
The Google Pixel 10a ($599) has a 6.3-inch screen up to 120Hz, a 48MP main and 13MP ultrawide camera, IP68 and 7 years of updates, per Google. It starts with 128GB instead of 256GB, and switching means leaving iMessage and FaceTime behind.
Each swap links to a store that sells it (amazon.com or Apple). Prices are typical US prices checked October 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Compared on their own pages: iPhone 17 alternatives · iPhone 16 alternatives
Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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