Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 16e, a new entry-level iPhone with major upgrades to its design and performance. Notably, it also marks a shift in Apple's naming strategy. The iPhone 16e uses a flat-edge design similar to the iPhone 12 and later models, and it packs modern hardware. However, its starting price is considerably higher than that of the earlier iPhone SE line, which leaves many people asking: is this a more premium iPhone SE, or simply a cheaper iPhone 16?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFuyX1XgJFg&t=1s
The iPhone 16e is powerful, but with some cutbacks
The iPhone 16e has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2.532 x 1.170 pixels, a pixel density of 460 PPI, and HDR support. It runs on the Apple A18 chip, which includes a 6-core CPU (2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores), a 4-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Compared with the standard iPhone 16, the chip differs in only one small way: the iPhone 16e has a 4-core GPU, while the standard iPhone 16 has a 5-core GPU.
Apple offers the iPhone 16e with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. The phone measures 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm, slightly smaller than the standard iPhone 16 (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm), and it is 3 grams lighter. That means cases may not be interchangeable between the two models.
The Apple C1 modem chip debuts
One standout feature of the iPhone 16e is the Apple C1, the first cellular modem chip developed in-house by Apple. According to Apple, it is the most power-efficient modem ever built into an iPhone, promising more stable network connections and better battery life.
On the camera side, the iPhone 16e has a 48MP sensor with an f/1.6 aperture and a 26mm lens, with optical image stabilization (OIS). The 12MP front camera has an f/1.9 aperture, autofocus, and Face ID support for unlocking the device, authenticating payments, signing in to apps, and more.
The iPhone 16e also has IP68 water and dust resistance and an Action Button that can be customized to open the camera, turn on the flashlight, trigger a shortcut, or switch the phone to silent mode.
For battery life, Apple says the iPhone 16e can play local video for up to 26 hours, or 21 hours of video streaming. It supports wireless charging and a USB-C connection, and it includes satellite services such as Emergency SOS, Find My via satellite, and Roadside Assistance.
A noticeably higher price than the iPhone SE
The iPhone 16e opens for preorder on February 21 and goes on sale on February 28. It starts at 599 USD, well above the 429 USD launch price of the iPhone SE 3 in 2022. Despite the many upgrades in performance and features, the 170 USD gap still leaves people wondering whether it is a truly attractive option.
With the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple has also discontinued a number of budget iPhone models, including the iPhone 14 (from 599 USD), the iPhone 14 Plus (from 699 USD), and the iPhone SE 3. That makes the iPhone 16e the lowest-priced iPhone in the current lineup, with the standard iPhone 16 starting at 799 USD.
With its modern design, strong performance, and a more reasonable price than the standard iPhone 16, the iPhone 16e looks like a solid option for anyone shopping for a new iPhone without spending too much. Still, Apple pricing it well above the iPhone SE 3 may leave some users torn between upgrading and sticking with an older device.
