Oh man, I spent way too much time digging through the CAD specs for the 17e—it’s exactly my kind of obsession because that slim profile is a total trap for thermals. Coming from a 13 mini, you’re going to feel like you’re carrying a surfboard anyway, so don’t mess around with those cheap TPU shells that just trap the heat from the new modem—wait, it's the first-gen in-house chip, right? Regardless, it runs hot. If you want to keep the haptic Air Buttons feeling 'native' without sacrificing the camera bump, you absolutely have to look at the Caudabe Sheath for iPhone 17e. I’ve tested their 'ShockLite' material on the last few cycles and it’s the only thing that doesn't feel like a cheap toy while keeping the buttons responsive—actually, their manufacturing tolerances are basically surgical. Another sleeper hit for the thermal issue is the Phone Rebel Gen-7 for iPhone 17e because they leave the sides partially exposed for better heat dissipation—though I guess that might be too 'open' for some. The camera ring on the 17e is basically a skyscraper, so make sure whatever you get has at least a 2.5mm lip. I tried a generic 'ultra-thin' last week and the lens was basically grinding on the table every time I set it down. Anyway, the Sheath is the sweet spot—it handles the haptic sensitivity perfectly because of the tapered edges and doesn't turn your phone into a literal toaster.

So funny you ask this — last summer I moved to a larger chassis and faced these thermal concerns. Stick with Spigen for the 17e. Their manufacturing handles haptic buttons and heat dissipation more effectively than generic brands. Just get any of their slim hybrid options. They provide sufficient lens protection without making the phone feel like a brick. It's the most reliable choice for this model.