Apple is now accepting preorders for the iPhone 16e. Prices for the newest member of the iPhone 16 family start from $599.
Shipping for the iPhone 16e start a week later, on February 28.
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Go ahead and place your iPhone 16e preorder now
The iPhone 16e replaces the old iPhone SE 3rd gen in Apple’s lineup. It features the same design as the regular iPhone 16, with some compromises to achieve a $200 lower price point. The similarities between the two phones include a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, an IP68 design, and a 12MP TrueDepth front camera. If you’re wondering when will the iPhone 16 come out, you can find more details about its launch and missing features.
Internally, the iPhone 16e uses a TSMC-fabricated A18 chip. It is the same as the one found on the iPhone 16, albeit with a 4-core GPU instead of five. Thanks to the A18 chip and 8GB RAM, the iPhone 16e supports Apple Intelligence. So, it provides full access to Apple’s AI suite of features, including Writing Tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, and others.
Another highlight of the iPhone 16e is its C1 modem. This is Apple’s first 5G modem, which the company claims is the “most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone.” Thanks to this, the iPhone 16e provides the “best battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone.” But there’s a catch. The modem only supports sub-6GHz 5G, missing out on the faster mmWave standard.
Perhaps the biggest issue with the iPhone 16e is the single 48MP rear camera, though Apple markets it as capable of offering 2x optical zoom.
While the iPhone 16e supports both wired and wireless charging, it misses out on MagSafe support. It is also limited to 7.5W charging speeds wirelessly. Check out our iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16 comparison to learn how the two phones differ.
Apple is charging $599 for the iPhone 16e, making it $200 cheaper than the $799 iPhone 16. The upgrade to the 256GB variant will cost you an extra $100, while the 512GB configuration is available for $899.
Buy now
Apple's budget entry in the iPhone 16 lineup is the first device to use Apple's efficient C1 modem. It delivers long battery life and Face ID but skimps on key features, including MagSafe.
- High-end Apple design at a lower price point
- Apple C1 modem
- Longer battery life than other iPhone 16 models
- No MagSafe, Dynamic Island or Ultra Wideband chip
- Only two colors: black and white
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
