Apple will launch its new iPhone 16e in stores on Friday, February 28. The new model replaces the entry-level iPhone SE and represents the latest addition to Apple's flagship iPhone 16 lineup, but don't let its more affordable $599 starting price fool you into thinking it lacks premium features.
The iPhone 16e inherits a host of features and enhancements from the existing iPhone 16 series. Here's a rundown of the biggest new features you get with the cheaper model:
iPhone 16e: What You Get
Display and Design
The most striking change is the shift to a 6.1-inch OLED display with Face ID, abandoning the Touch ID Home button that characterized the previous entry-level iPhone SE models. This transition represents the end of Touch ID across Apple's entire iPhone lineup, and the use of OLED displays across Apple's entire smartphone lineup. Otherwise, the iPhone 16e largely adopts the design signature of the iPhone 14, complete with a display notch.
Performance and Battery
At the heart of the iPhone 16e is Apple's A18 chip, though with a slightly different configuration than its flagship siblings. While it shares the same 6-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine, the iPhone 16e features a binned 4-core GPU instead of the 5-core variant found in the standard iPhone 16 models. However, most users are unlikely to notice any appreciable difference in general performance.
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the iPhone 16e is Apple's first in-house modem design, the C1. This new chip delivers impressive power efficiency, enabling the device to achieve up to 26 hours of video playback – four hours more than the standard iPhone 16 model.
Camera System
The camera system has also received attention, with a single 48-megapixel Fusion camera that provides what Apple calls "optical-quality" 2x zoom capabilities. It has no Telephoto lens, so there are no other zoom options, and there is no Ultra Wide camera for wide-angle shots and macro images. Since there's just one lens, there's also no option for spatial image and video capture.
The iPhone 16e provides the same True Tone flash, Photonic Engine, Deep Fusion, and Smart HDR 5 options, but it does not support next-generation portraits with Focus Control or the latest Photographic Styles. Meanwhile, the front FaceTime camera features a 12-megapixel sensor with autofocus support, and offers an identical feature set with the exception of support for Cinematic mode, Photographic Styles, and Depth Control for Portrait shots.
Features and Connectivity
The iPhone 16e adopts the modern physical changes that are found on Apple's phones like an Action button, USB-C connectivity, and IP68 water resistance. However, it lacks some premium features found on other iPhone 16 models, including MagSafe charging, Wi-Fi 7, Dynamic Island, and the new Camera Control button.
iPhone 16e also supports Apple's satellite features. When outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, the iPhone 16e supports Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via satellite. Availability of the features varies by country.
Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence is a suite of AI-powered features designed to enhance user experience across Apple's ecosystem. The iPhone 16e joins the iPhone 15 Pro models and all other iPhone 16 models in supporting Apple Intelligence, thanks to its 8GB of RAM. AI features include Writing Tools, the Image Playground app, which allows users to generate images using AI, and Genmoji, which enables the creation of personalized emojis from text descriptions or photos.
Siri has been overhauled to provide more natural and context-aware interactions, including the ability to process complex queries by integrating with ChatGPT. In the Mail app, Priority Messages highlight urgent emails with AI-generated summaries, and the Photos app offers features like custom memory movies and enhanced search capabilities. The iPhone 16e also supports Visual Intelligence, which helps you get more details about places and objects around you. The feature can be assigned to the Action button or invoked via Control Center.
Availability and Options
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e are now open on Apple's online store and the Apple Store app, with availability in 59 countries and regions. The device comes in white or black color options, with storage configurations of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB priced at $599, $699, and $899, respectively.
