iPhone 17e Notch & Bezel Design – Why It's Dated and What to Do

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I was in a coffee shop in New York, proudly unboxing my new iPhone 17e. The pink color was gorgeous. The weight felt perfect in my hand. I was excited.

Then my friend across the table looked at it and said, "Wait, is that the new one? Why does it still have the notch?"

I felt my excitement drain away. He pulled out his iPhone 17, and we put them side by side. His had the sleek Dynamic Island, thin bezels, and a modern look. Mine had a giant notch that looked like it belonged on an iPhone 14 from 2022.

I tried to defend my purchase. "It's $200 cheaper!" I said. "It's got the same A19 chip!" But I couldn't escape the feeling that my brand-new 2026 phone looked dated on day one.

And the bezels. Oh, the bezels. When I put my phone next to his, the black borders around the display were noticeably thicker. It felt like I was holding a phone from a different era.

I spent the first week obsessing over it. Every time I picked up my phone, I noticed the notch. Every time I compared it to a friend's phone, I felt a twinge of regret. I almost returned it.

But then I stopped. I realized that the notch and the bezels don't actually affect how I use my phone. They're aesthetic choices, not functional problems. And once I stopped comparing, I started appreciating what the phone actually offers.

Here's the thing: the iPhone 17e's design is dated. The notch and thick bezels are from the iPhone 14 era, and Apple chose to keep them to hit the $599 price point. But that doesn't mean it's a bad phone. It's a phone with compromises, and you need to decide if those compromises matter to you.

Estimated read time: 8 minutes. Stick with me, and I'll show you how I made peace with the dated design—and why you might want to do the same.

🚨 Your Quick Rescue Guide: What Actually Helps With the Dated Design

If you're already frustrated and want to know what you can do right now, here's the honest truth:

• Stop comparing side-by-side: The notch only looks dated when you're looking at a phone with a Dynamic Island. On its own, it's fine.
• Focus on the screen quality: The Super Retina XDR OLED display is beautiful—excellent colors, deep blacks, and great HDR brightness. The notch doesn't affect that.
• Use dark mode: The notch blends into the black background and becomes almost invisible. I barely notice it anymore.
• Appreciate what you got for the price: You got the same A19 chip as the iPhone 17, 256GB storage, and MagSafe for $200 less. The notch and bezels are part of the cost savings.
• Remember that the bezels are part of the charm: The iPhone 17e is 169g and 7.8mm thin—lighter and thinner than the iPhone 17. The bezels help keep the design compact.

The Moment I Realized My New Phone Looked Old

I was at a tech meetup in NYC, showing off my iPhone 17e to a group of friends. One of them worked at a tech blog and had the iPhone 17 Pro Max. He took one look at my phone and said, "Apple's still selling the notch in 2026? That's wild."

Everyone gathered around. They compared my phone to his. The notch was obvious. The bezels were thicker. My phone looked like the older, cheaper cousin at a family reunion.

I felt embarrassed. I'd just spent $599 on a phone that looked like it was from 2022. Every Android at the same price point—the Galaxy A36, the Pixel 9a, the Nothing Phone (3)—had a punch-hole camera and a cleaner, more modern look.

But then something shifted. One of my friends said, "Honestly, if you weren't holding it next to the Pro Max, I wouldn't even notice. The screen is still gorgeous." And she was right. The Super Retina XDR OLED display is stunning—colors pop, blacks are deep, and HDR content looks incredible.

I realized I was comparing my phone to phones that cost $200 or $400 more. That's not a fair comparison. The iPhone 17e isn't trying to be a flagship. It's trying to be a great value phone at $599.

Solution 1: Stop the Side-by-Side Comparison (Zero Risk, Psychological)

This is the most important "fix," and it costs nothing.

What you need: Self-awareness.

Steps:

1. Stop picking up the iPhone 17 or 17 Pro: to compare design.
2. Stop watching YouTube videos: that put the 17e next to the 17 or 17 Pro.
3. Use your phone normally for a week: without comparing it to anything else.
4. Ask yourself: Does the notch actually bother me when I'm using the phone, or only when I'm comparing it?

Why this works: The notch and bezels are aesthetic choices. They don't affect functionality. The only time they look "dated" is when you're looking at a more expensive phone side-by-side.

What the reviews say: 9to5Mac's Ben Lovejoy noted that the iPhone 17e "looks dated on the day it was announced" because of the notch, but also acknowledged that Apple "has to hold back some features from the flagship models" to maintain the price difference.

My take: I stopped comparing, and I stopped caring. The phone works perfectly. The screen is beautiful. The notch doesn't bother me anymore.

Solution 2: Embrace Dark Mode (Minimal Risk)

This is a simple trick that makes the notch almost invisible.

What you need: Your iPhone 17e and 10 seconds.

Steps:

1. Open Settings: → Display & Brightness.
2. Select: Dark Mode.
3. Optionally: set it to switch automatically at sunset.

Why this works: The notch sits at the top of the display. When the background is black (Dark Mode), the notch blends into the bezel and becomes almost invisible. You stop noticing it entirely.

My take: I use Dark Mode exclusively now, and I genuinely forget the notch exists. It's a small change, but it makes a massive difference in how "dated" the design feels.

Solution 3: Focus on What You Gained, Not What You Lost (Reframe It)

This is about changing your perspective.

What you need: A shift in mindset.

Steps:

1. Write down what you got for $599: A19 chip (same as iPhone 17), 256GB storage, MagSafe, 48MP camera, IP68 rating, 26-hour battery life.
2. Write down what you'd have to pay to get the Dynamic Island and thinner bezels: $200 more for the iPhone 17.
3. Ask yourself: Is the Dynamic Island worth $200 to you? For some people, yes. For me, no.

Why this works: The iPhone 17e is a value proposition. You're paying $599 for a phone that has the same chip as the $799 iPhone 17. The notch and bezels are part of the cost savings. If you want a more modern design, you need to pay more.

My take: I realized that the A19 chip, the 256GB storage, and the MagSafe support matter much more to me than the notch. The phone is fast, has plenty of storage, and charges wirelessly at 15W. The design is just a compromise I'm willing to accept.

Solution 4: Use a Case That Draws Attention Elsewhere (Low Risk)

This is a cosmetic fix, but it works.

What you need: A case that's bright, colorful, or textured.

Steps:

1. Buy a bright pink, red, or patterned case: that draws attention to the back of the phone.
2. Avoid clear cases: that show the phone's design but don't add visual interest.
3. Choose a case with a texture: (like leather or fabric) that feels premium and distracts from the design.

Why this works: When people look at your phone, they'll notice the case first, not the notch. A bold case shifts attention away from the dated front design and toward the back.

My take: I got a bright pink case to match the phone's color, and it genuinely helped. People now notice the color before they notice the notch.

💰 Repair Cost Table: What to Expect If the Display Fails

If the display itself has hardware issues (cracks, dead pixels, flickering), here's what you can expect in 2026:

Service	Estimated Cost (USD)	Notes
Apple Store Screen Replacement	$199 – $279	For cracked screens
AppleCare+ Service Fee	$29	Screen damage only
Independent Shop Screen Replacement	$100 – $180	Third-party parts; variable quality
DIY Screen Replacement	$80 – $150	Advanced users only—risk of Face ID damage

My take: The iPhone 17e uses Ceramic Shield 2 glass, which is durable—Apple claims 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation and a new antireflective coating for better outdoor visibility. Most display issues will be physical damage, not design-related. If you're under warranty, get a free diagnostic first.

🔍 Diagnostic Table: Match Your Symptoms to the Right Fix

Symptoms	Common Causes	Jump to Solution
I feel embarrassed by the notch when I see friends' phones	Comparing to more expensive models	Solution 1 – Stop comparing
The notch looks obvious and annoying	Bright background makes it stand out	Solution 2 – Use Dark Mode
I regret buying the phone because it looks dated	Focusing on what I lost, not what I gained	Solution 3 – Reframe it
People keep commenting on the design	The notch is the first thing they notice	Solution 4 – Use a colorful case
The bezels look thick compared to the iPhone 17	The 17e has thicker bezels	Solution 1 – Stop comparing
The screen is actually beautiful when I'm using it	Focus on the display quality, not the design	Solution 3 – Reframe it

🛡️ How I Stopped Obsessing Over the Dated Design

After weeks of frustration, I developed habits that made the design feel like a non-issue:

• I use Dark Mode exclusively: The notch blends into the black background and I barely notice it.
• I stopped comparing to the iPhone 17: It's not a fair comparison—the 17 is $200 more and has different design priorities.
• I remind myself what I paid for: $599 for the A19 chip, 256GB storage, and MagSafe is genuinely good value.
• I appreciate the phone's compact size: The iPhone 17e is 169g and 7.8mm thin—lighter and thinner than the iPhone 17. The bezels are part of that compact design.
• I focus on the screen quality, not the notch: The Super Retina XDR OLED display is excellent—1200 nits HDR brightness, deep blacks, and great color accuracy.

🔧 Technical Analysis: Why Apple Kept the Notch and Bezels

Let's be honest about why this design decision happened.

Product segmentation: Apple needs to differentiate the iPhone 17e from the iPhone 17 to justify the $200 price difference. The notch and thick bezels are deliberate design choices to make the 17e feel like a "budget" option.

Cost savings: The notch uses older, cheaper display technology. The Dynamic Island requires a more complex cutout and software integration. By keeping the notch, Apple saves money on the display assembly.

What you're getting instead: For $599, you get:

• A19 chip: (same as iPhone 17)
• 256GB storage: (double the iPhone 16e)
• MagSafe and Qi2 support: (15W wireless charging)
• 48MP camera: with 2x optical-quality zoom
• C1X modem: with twice the 5G speed
• IP68 rating and Ceramic Shield 2:

What you're giving up: Dynamic Island, thinner bezels, Always-On Display, and a more modern design.

The context: Every Android at $599 or less has a punch-hole camera and thinner bezels. But none of them have the A19 chip, 256GB storage, and the full Apple ecosystem. You're paying for the software and performance, not the cutting-edge design.

My honest rating on durability: The display hardware itself is solid. Ceramic Shield 2 is durable, and OLED panels don't degrade significantly over time. The phone gets a 7.5/10 from me—the screen quality is excellent, but the design is visibly dated.

Difficulty of fixing this "problem": 1/10. There's nothing to fix. It's a permanent hardware design. The "fix" is purely psychological and behavioral.

❓ FAQ: Calming Your Fears About the Dated Design

Q: Why does the iPhone 17e still have a notch in 2026?

A: Product segmentation. Apple kept the notch to differentiate the 17e from the iPhone 17 and to save on display costs. It's a deliberate decision, not an oversight.

Q: Is the iPhone 17e's design really that dated?

A: The notch and thick bezels are from the iPhone 14 era, which makes the phone look dated compared to the Dynamic Island and thinner bezels on the iPhone 17. But the Super Retina XDR OLED display is still excellent—1200 nits HDR brightness, deep blacks, and great color accuracy.

Q: Are the bezels on the iPhone 17e thicker than on other phones?

A: Yes. The iPhone 17e has noticeably thicker bezels than the iPhone 17 and most mid-range Androids. It's one of the design compromises Apple made to hit the $599 price point.

Q: Should I return my iPhone 17e because of the dated design?

A: That depends on what you value. If the Dynamic Island and thinner bezels are critical to you, then yes, you should consider the iPhone 17 or another phone. If you're upgrading from an older iPhone and care more about performance, storage, and value, the 17e is a solid choice.

Q: Does the notch affect the screen quality?

A: No. The notch is just a cutout for the Face ID camera. The screen quality—colors, contrast, brightness, and resolution—is still excellent. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display offers 1200 nits HDR brightness and deep blacks, making it great for video and photos.

Q: Is the iPhone 17e a bad purchase because of the design?

A: No. The iPhone 17e is a good phone for its price. It offers flagship performance (A19 chip), great battery life, a solid camera, and 256GB storage at $599. The design is dated, but that's a compromise many are willing to accept for the value.

✅ Final Word: It's a Design Compromise, Not a Flaw

Look, I get the frustration. I felt it too. It's 2026, and a $599 phone with a notch and thick bezels feels like we're living in 2022. Every Android under $400 has a punch-hole camera and thinner bezels. It's hard to defend, and I won't try to.

But here's the thing: the notch and bezels aren't a defect. They're design compromises. Apple made them deliberately to hit the $599 price point and to differentiate the 17e from the iPhone 17. The question isn't "is the design dated?" It's "is the design dated enough to ruin an otherwise excellent phone?"

For most people, the answer is no. The A19 chip is powerful. The 256GB storage is generous. The MagSafe support is welcome. The camera is solid. The screen quality is excellent. The only thing that's "dated" is the design, and unless you're constantly comparing it to a $799 phone, you probably won't notice.

Here's your action plan:

• Stop comparing to the iPhone 17: It's not a fair comparison. The 17 costs $200 more.
• Use Dark Mode: The notch blends into the black background and becomes almost invisible.
• Focus on what you gained, not what you lost: A19 chip, 256GB storage, MagSafe, 48MP camera—these are the real features you're paying for.
• Appreciate the compact size: The iPhone 17e is lighter and thinner than the iPhone 17. The bezels are part of that compact design.
• Use a colorful case: to draw attention away from the notch and toward the back of the phone.

Bookmark this guide and share it with other iPhone 17e owners. The frustration is real, but the solutions work.

You've got this. Your phone is fine. It's just not a $799 phone.