The new iPhone has launched, except the rumors were true and it’s known as the “iPhone 16e.”
While not an update to the $429 iPhone SE, which was last updated in 2022, the new iPhone 16E will ship in a single size and cut $200 off the standard iPhone 16 starting price. Per Macworld, with the launch of the iPhone 16e, the iPhone SE has apparently been eliminated from the iPhone lineup along with several older models, and Apple no longer sells a “budget” phone.
Pre-orders for the new model begin on February 21, with availability starting on February 28. It is available in white or black, with prices starting at $599/£599 for the 128GB model.
Where specs are concerned, you’ll get the following:
- A 6.1-inch OLED display
- Face ID
- A18 processor
- Apple Intelligence support
- 48MP rear camera with 2x telephoto
- Satellite connectivity
- Action Button
With regard to the standard iPhone 16, the higher-end model offers a Camera Control button, an ultrawide rear camera with macro photography, Dynamic Island, MagSafe charging, a brighter display, ultra-wideband, and the ability to take spatial photos and videos. The iPhone 16 is also available in a variety of colors, while the iPhone 16e will ship in either black or white.
Apple has apparently also dropped the MagSafe feature from the iPhone 16E, as the magnetic attachment feature has been a staple of the iPhone for the last four years. Users will still get Qi wireless charging up to 7.5 watts, but faster charging (and attachment to magnetic accessories) is off the table. The unit also supports USB-C for charging.
The display measures 6.1 inches, or the same size as the iPhone 16, but at a lower brightness level. The maximum brightness for iPhone 16e is 800 nits or 1,000 for HDR content. That compares to 1,000/1,600 nits for the iPhone 16, which can boost to 2,000 nits in bright outdoor light, making it comparable to the iPhone 14 display.
The A18 chip found in the iPhone 16e is not as powerful as the A18 found in the current iPhone 16 model, and only has 4 active GPU cores, while the iPhone 16’s A18 has 5 GPU cores. Apple may reduce performance in other ways as well, such as limiting clock speed. The exact specifics won’t be known until benchmark tests have been run.
Still, Apple has debuted its new C1 modem with the iPhone 16e, the new hardware supporting sub-6GHz 5G and 4G LTE with 4×4 MIMO, while Apple calls it “the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone.” As previously expected, it does not support mmWave 5G connectivity but neither did the previous iPhone SE. model. Other new features include a new internal design that Apple has stated boosts battery life, the company citing up to 26 hours of video playback, compared to 22 hours for the regular iPhone 16 and 27 hours for the iPhone 16 Pro.
The iPhone 16e differs from the iPhone 16 and doesn’t offer ultra-sideband radio, and while it will work with your AirTags, the “precision finding” capability won’t. It’s also missing Thread networking and has Wi-Fi 6 instead of Wi-Fi 7.
The iPhone 16e is available in white or black and starts at $599/£599 for 128GB. The 256GB model is $699, and the 512GB model is $899.
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