iPhone 17e & iPad Air M4 Are Apple’s Smartest Upgrades Yet

By Danial Martinus • 03 Mar 2026 in Gear

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Apple has kicked off March with the release of the new iPhone 17e and iPad Air with M4, two devices that cater to everyday users who want serious power without stepping into full-blown “Pro” territory.

iPhone 17e is a sensible powerhouse, now with MagSafe convenience

The final device to join the iPhone 17 lineup, the iPhone 17e is the more affordable sibling, but you wouldn’t be able to spot it quickly based on its spec sheet.

At its core sits Apple’s A19 chip paired with a new C1X modem that’s both faster and more energy-efficient. In daily use, this translates to smoother gaming, snappier multitasking, and comfortable all-day battery life.

It’ll work quite well as a daily-driver workhorse.

“iPhone 17e combines powerful performance and features our users love at an exceptional value, making it a compelling option for customers looking to upgrade to the iPhone 17 family,” says Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing.

“We know our customers want a product that will last, and iPhone 17e delivers just that. With A19 for incredible performance, double the entry storage, a smarter camera system, and enhanced durability, iPhone 17e is designed to stay fast, secure, and valuable for years to come.”

Storage now starts at 256GB for RM2,999, double the base storage of its predecessor at the same price.

The 48MP Fusion camera brings an optical-quality 2x zoom and improved portrait processing, while 4K Dolby Vision video and Spatial Audio recording make it a more creator-friendly device.

It’s also more durable, with Ceramic Shield 2 for improved scratch resistance, as well as MagSafe compatibility (finally), which lets you wirelessly charge quicker and use a boatload of MagSafe accessories (wallets, grips, etc) available on the market.

Who’s the iPhone 17e for, you ask? If you’re still clinging to an iPhone 11, 12, or 13, the iPhone 17e will give you a meaningful leap without paying “Pro” prices. It’s also ideal for students, young professionals, or content creators who value performance and camera quality but don’t need the triple lens setup.

iPad Air with M4 is a quietly overpowered tablet

The new iPad Air now runs on Apple’s M4 chip, with a 30% jump in performance over the M3 iPad Air, and up to 2.3 times faster than the M1 version.

Memory increases to 12GB of RAM with significantly higher bandwidth. This makes it a truly powerful device in such a portable package. Available in 11-inch (RM2,799) and 13-inch (RM3,699) sizes, iPad Air with M4 supports Wi-Fi 7 via Apple’s new N1 chip and faster 5G through C1X on cellular models.

While not a true laptop replacement, the new iPad Air almost certainly feels like it, especially when paired with iPadOS 26’s revamped windowing system and improved Files app, as well as the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro.

Who’s the iPad Air with M4 for? We’d say it’s great for university students who do a lot of research and note taking, business users who work remotely, and creatives editing video in apps like Final Cut Pro. If you’re on iPad Air with M1, you’ll feel the biggest difference in performance.

Smart upgrades for most people

The iPhone 17e is a smart, value-for-money upgrade for people who want the essential features of an iPhone without the extras that they’d probably only use once or twice. It’s an easier recommendation this year thanks to the addition of MagSafe.

The iPad Air powered by M4 is for those who want a stealthy productivity machine that almost replaces their laptop. It’s slightly more portable, lighter, and more than powerful enough for most use-cases.

Neither of these devices really scream for any attention, but they quietly make a strong case for your hard-earned cash.