Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e on Wednesday morning, the newest and most affordable model in their current lineup. Replacing the 2022 iPhone SE, the 16e marks a shift from the significantly lower price point of its predecessor. Priced at $599, it closes the gap with the $799 iPhone 16, released last fall. Pre-orders begin Friday, February 21st, with availability starting February 28th.
The iPhone 16e is also the first phone to feature Apple's C1 cellular modem. Apple's track record with in-house chips (M1, A-series) is strong, but the modem's performance is crucial. Hopefully, Apple has learned from past connectivity issues (like "Antennagate") and ensured reliable performance for the iPhone 16e.
iPhone 16e
From the front, the iPhone 16e closely resembles the iPhone 14, boasting an identical 6.1-inch OLED display (2532x1170 resolution, 1200-nit peak brightness). While not as sharp or bright as the iPhone 16, it includes an Action button and USB-C port, although lacking Camera Control. The rear is more distinctive, featuring a single 48MP camera—similar to the iPhone 16's main camera, but without sensor-shift stabilization, the latest Photographic Styles, or adjustable portrait mode focus. The selfie camera and Face ID remain unchanged.
The phone uses an aluminum frame, glass back, and Apple's Ceramic Shield on the front. While Apple continues to tout this Ceramic Shield as "tougher than any smartphone glass," it's worth noting that a newer, supposedly "two times tougher" version exists, raising questions about the 16e's durability, especially considering wear observed on the iPhone 16.
Internally, the iPhone 16e demonstrates Apple's product stratification. It features an "A18" chip, like the iPhone 16, but with a 4-core GPU instead of the 5-core GPU in the iPhone 16. Performance is expected to be a step down from the iPhone 16, and further below the iPhone 16 Pro. However, the Neural Engine remains, supporting Apple's intelligence features.
The iPhone 16e's lower price point necessitates compromises. While not overly compromised, its discount is less significant than previous iPhone SE models. The $599 price tag makes it Apple's cheapest offering, but the 2022 iPhone SE launched at $429, offering a nearly 50% discount compared to the then-$799 iPhone 13. While the iPhone 16e's design is more current (with minor yearly updates since 2018), the smaller price difference may impact its appeal.
The iPhone 16e's actual performance remains to be seen. With compelling Android alternatives around $600 (like the OnePlus 13R), Apple may face challenges attracting buyers outside its existing ecosystem.
