Summary
- Apple has unveiled the new iPhone 16e, its new mid-range iPhone that succeeds the iPhone SE.
- The iPhone 16e features an A18 chipset, which supports Apple Intelligence, and a single 48-megapixel rear camera. It also has the Apple C1, the company’s first celluar modem.
- The phone starts at $600 and targets budget-conscious consumers. It is available for pre-order on February 21 and launches February 28.
After months of leaks and rumors, Apple has officially unveiled its new iPhone SE, which has been renamed the iPhone 16e.
The phone’s design is similar to the iPhone 14, incorporating a notch rather than Dynamic Island seen on the iPhone 16. The iPhone 16e is equipped with Apple’s A18 chipset, which enables full compatibility with Apple Intelligence, Apple’s suite of AI features. The phone’s back features a single 48-megapixel camera, a compromise from the two rear cameras on the iPhone 16.
The iPhone 16e is a mid-range device aimed at budget-conscious consumers. The 128GB model starts at $600, $200 cheaper than the 128GB iPhone 16, which starts at $800. The phone is available in two matte colorways: black and white. The iPhone 16e is available for pre-order starting February 21, and launches February 28.
“iPhone 16e packs in the features our users love about the iPhone 16 lineup, including breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, and Apple Intelligence,” Apple said in a press release. “We’re so excited for iPhone 16e to complete the lineup as a powerful, more affordable option to bring the iPhone experience to even more people.”
Apple iPhone 16e
Apple’s new iPhone 16e is aimed at users on a budget, sporting many popular iPhone features while being priced much lower than its flagship counterpart, the iPhone 16.
- Brand
- Apple
- SoC
- A18
- Display
- 6.1-inch 2352 x 1170 pixel resolution Super Retina XDR
- Storage
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Ports
- USB-C
- Front camera
- 12-megapixel
- Rear camera
- 48-megapixel
- Colors
- Black, White
- Display type
- OLED
- Weight
- 5.88 oz (167g)
- IP Rating
- IP68
- Price
- $600
- Release
- Feb 28
Goodbye SE, hello 16e
The iPhone 16e has Apple’s first in-house designed modem
With the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple has officially retired the home button on its devices. The third-generation iPhone SE was the final product to feature a home button with Touch ID, and now the 16e has taken its place in Apple’s iPhone lineup. The iPhone 16e sports a notch design and includes a 12-megapixel front-facing camera that enables Face ID. Additionally, the new phone is equipped with the Apple C1 modem, marking the first modem in an iPhone created by Apple itself. Traditionally, Apple has used Qualcomm modems in its smartphones.
The iPhone 16e has a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 2352 x 1170 pixel resolution. This is a vast improvement from the previous third-generation iPhone SE, which had a 4.7-inch LCD screen with a 1334 x 750 pixel resolution. Apple is touting the phone’s battery life as well, saying it has “the best battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone.” Apple claims the iPhone 16e lasts up to 26 hours during video playback and that the battery lasts six hours longer than the iPhone 11 and 12 hours longer than past generations of the iPhone SE. The phone also has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating and an Action Button.
It is disappointing to see the iPhone 16e starting at $600 instead of $500. While this isn’t surprising given the phone’s specifications and features, it would have been nice to see. Nevertheless, the iPhone 16e will allow budget-conscious consumers to access Apple’s latest iPhone features, such as Apple Intelligence, at a price that isn’t too high.