The iPhone 16e includes Apple's new custom C1 5G modem chip, which Apple says improves battery efficiency. The iPhone 16e offers up to 26 hours of video playback, which is the longest battery life in the 6.1-inch form factor.
Along with up to 26 hours of video playback, the iPhone 16e supports up to 21 hours of streaming video and up to 90 hours of audio playback.
Comparatively, the prior-generation iPhone SE 3 offered up to 15 hours of video playback, while the similarly sized iPhone 16 offers up to 22 hours of video playback, which is four hours less than the 16e.
The iPhone 16 and 16e have the same A18 chip inside with the exception of the GPU (4-core vs. 5-core for the 16) and the same display, so the main difference with power draw is the C1 modem chip. The standard iPhone 16 has Qualcomm's modem chip, so it seems that Apple's modem offers some notable improvements to battery.
While the iPhone 16e adopted a number of features from the iPhone 16 models, MagSafe is one curious exclusion. Fast charging is supported with USB-C, but wireless charging is limited to 7.5W Qi speeds and there is no magnetic connection.
Apple did away with the 64GB storage option for the iPhone 16e, which means all iPhones now start with at least 128GB of storage.
Unfortunately, more storage means the iPhone 16e has a $599 starting price instead of a sub-$500 price, but at least iPhone buyers will no longer have an unreasonably low amount of storage to work with.
Apple's sole remaining product with a 64GB storage tier is the iPad, but that will likely be phased out when the iPad 11 launches later this year.
While the iPhone 16e starts with 128GB of storage, there are also 256GB and 512GB options available for a higher price. The iPhone 16e is set to launch on Friday, February 28.
Google is rolling out new tricks for the Lens visual search feature within its Chrome and Google apps on iOS, allowing users to search for content directly from their screen without taking screenshots or opening new tabs.
In Chrome for iOS, users can access the new Lens functionality through the three-dot menu by selecting "Search Screen with Google Lens." Google says it plans to streamline this process in the coming months by adding a dedicated Lens icon to the browser's address bar, similar to the desktop Chrome implementation launched last year.
The Google app for iOS is getting similar functionality. Users will be able to initiate screen searches by tapping the three-dot menu and selecting "Search this Screen." The feature supports various interaction methods, including drawing, highlighting, or tapping to select content for visual searches while browsing articles, shopping, or watching videos.
Google is also expanding its AI-powered search capabilities within Lens. The company says it is introducing AI Overviews, which will appear more frequently in Lens results without requiring users to formulate specific questions. As a result, Lens should be able to provide detailed information about novel or unique images beyond its existing object recognition capabilities.
The screen search features are rolling out globally this week for both Chrome and the Google app on iOS. The AI Overviews expansion will initially be available to English-language users in supported regions through the Google app for Android and iOS, with Chrome desktop and mobile support coming soon.
Visual Intelligence, an Apple Intelligence feature that has thus far been tied to the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 models, is available on the iPhone 16e even though it does not have the dedicated button for activating the camera.
On its website, Apple says that the Visual Intelligence can be activated on the iPhone 16e using the Action button or the Control Center.
"With a press, you can use visual intelligence, call your best friend, launch your favorite app, and more," reads the description of the feature.
Tying Visual Intelligence to the Camera Control button was a convenient way for Apple to explain why the feature wasn't added to the iPhone 15 Pro models, but it's clear the feature can work on the older iPhones if it can be used with the Action button on the 16e.
It's possible that Apple will add Visual Intelligence support to the iPhone 15 Pro models in an upcoming iOS update, but it's also equally possible that it will remain an iPhone 16 feature.
With the discontinuation of the iPhone SE today, Apple no longer sells any "small screen" smartphones.
The smallest iPhone Apple now sells is 6.1-inches, with the iPhone 15, iPhone 16e, and iPhone 16 all coming in this display size. The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 16 Plus are available with 6.7-inch displays, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch display.
All of the discontinued iPhone display sizes with the device that introduced them are listed below:
With no iPhones left on sale with a display smaller than 6-inches and no rumors about any smaller devices in the pipeline, Apple seems to have abandoned the small-screen smartphone market entirely.
Ahead of the launch of the iPhone 16e, rumors suggested that Apple would target a price point at or below $500 to stay within the range of prior low-cost iPhone options and to encourage sales, but Apple opted for a higher starting cost.
The iPhone 16e is priced starting at $599 for 128GB of storage, and it is now Apple's cheapest iPhone option, even in countries like India where more affordable iPhones often sell well.
The now-discontinued iPhone SE started at $429, so it has become $170 more expensive to get an entry-level iPhone.
Apple raised the price of the iPhone 16e because it has a modern design, more expensive A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, an Action Button, Face ID, and a higher starting storage. The increase in cost will improve Apple's average iPhone selling price, but it could put the device out of range of some customers.
Here is Apple's new pricing lineup, with the iPhone 16e included:
Just like the now-discontinued iPhone SE, the iPhone 16e does not have MagSafe connectivity.
This means accessories such as MagSafe cases, chargers, battery packs, and wallets will not work with the device. None of the silicone cases for the iPhone 16e are MagSafe cases. Despite this omission, the iPhone 16e continues to feature standard Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W.
This makes the iPhone 16e the first iPhone with a "modern" design to miss out on MagSafe. MagSafe was introduced with the iPhone 12 lineup in 2020 as a new accessory ecosystem.
iPhone 16 features include a 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch for Face ID, an A18 chip that enables Apple Intelligence support, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a USB-C port, an Action button, Apple's all-new C1 modem for 5G, and more.
Read our iPhone 16e announcement post for more details about the device, which is available to pre-order starting Friday at 5 a.m. Pacific Time.
The new iPhone 16e unveiled today features Face ID instead of Touch ID. As a result, Apple no longer sells any new iPhone models with a Home button, for the first time since the original iPhone launched all the way back in 2007.
After debuting in 2007, the Home button gained Touch ID fingerprint authentication when the iPhone 5s launched in 2013. Apple began phasing out the Home button when Face ID debuted on the iPhone X in 2017, and now that the previous iPhone SE with a Home button is discontinued, that process is now complete.
Touch ID is no longer available on any current iPhone models as of today, but it remains built into the power button on the latest iPad Air, iPad mini, and entry-level iPad models. Touch ID also remains a feature on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
Apple today announced its first custom cellular modem with the name "C1," debuting in the all-new iPhone 16e.
The new modem contributes to the iPhone 16e's power efficiency, giving it the longest battery life of any iPhone with a 6.1-inch display, such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16.
Expanding the benefits of Apple silicon, C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity. Apple silicon — including C1 — the all-new internal design, and the advanced power management of iOS 18 all contribute to extraordinary battery life.
No other Apple devices contain the C1. All other iPhone models use modems from Qualcomm. Similar to how Apple Silicon allowed Apple to move away from Intel processors, Apple's 5G modem allows the company to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm.
As a result of the iPhone SE being discontinued, several individual iPhone features have also met the end of the road. Apple no longer sells any iPhone models with a a Home button, Touch ID, LCD screen, a sub-6-inch screen size, or Lightning.
The lineup now consists of the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus.
There is a bit of a quirk in Apple's current iPhone lineup. The iPhone 16e has an outdated notch, yet it has Apple's latest A18 chip and Apple Intelligence support. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have the newer Dynamic Island, yet a two-generations-old A16 Bionic chip and no Apple Intelligence support.
Apple will likely discontinue the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus when the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, and iPhone 17 Pro models launch in September.
Apple has officially discontinued the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, removing them from its product lineup following the announcement of the iPhone 16e.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus were introduced in September 2022 as the standard models in Apple's annual smartphone refresh, positioned below the higher-end Pro models. At the time of their discontinuation, the iPhone 14 was priced at $599, while the iPhone 14 Plus was available for $699, marking a reduction from their original launch prices of $799 and $899, respectively.
The standard iPhone 14 retained a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the iPhone 14 Plus introduced a 6.7-inch variant—the first time Apple offered a large-screen option on a non-Pro model. Unlike previous years, there was no iPhone 14 mini, as Apple opted to replace the compact 5.4-inch model with the larger Plus variant.
Both devices were powered by the A15 Bionic chip, which had originally debuted in the iPhone 13, featuring a 5-core GPU for improved graphics performance. They also gained Crash Detection, which leveraged onboard sensors to detect severe car accidents and automatically contact emergency services if the user was unresponsive, and Emergency SOS via satellite, allowing users to communicate with emergency responders in areas without cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity.
The camera system was enhanced with the introduction of the Photonic Engine, a computational photography technology aimed at improving low-light performance across all cameras. Additionally, the front-facing TrueDepth camera received autofocus for the first time to improve sharpness in selfies and video calls.
It's worth noting Apple has never discontinued a mainline iPhone midway through the year before. With their removal from Apple's website, the company's non-Pro lineup now consists of only the iPhone 16e, iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, and iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.
The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the end of an era.
The iPhone 16e is powered by an A18 chip, enabling support for Apple Intelligence features, such as notification summaries and Genmoji for creating custom emoji. In the iPhone 16e, the A18 chip has a 6-core CPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, but a binned 4-core GPU. The A18 chip in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus has a 5-core GPU.
The device is also equipped with an Apple-designed 5G modem called the C1, whereas other iPhones have a Qualcomm modem. Apple says its own modem is so power efficient that the iPhone 16e offers the longest battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone model ever. For example, Apple says the iPhone 16e can get up to 26 hours of battery life for video playback, up from 22 hours on the standard iPhone 16.
Apple on the C1 modem:
Expanding the benefits of Apple silicon, C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity. Apple silicon — including C1 — the all-new internal design, and the advanced power management of iOS 18 all contribute to extraordinary battery life.
On the back of the iPhone 16e is a single 48-megapixel Fusion camera, which provides a 2x "optical-quality" Telephoto option, according to Apple. On the front, there is a 12-megapixel camera with autofocus.
Other key features include an Action button with Visual Intelligence support, a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, a Ceramic Shield front cover, IP68-rated water resistance, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3. The device does not have the Camera Control button that was introduced across the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup last year. In addition, the iPhone 16e lacks MagSafe.
In the U.S., the iPhone 16e lacks a physical SIM card slot, but it is still present in other countries.
iPhone 16e 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 will be accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 16e starting at 5 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, February 21, and the device launches on Friday, February 28 in 59 countries and regions. In the U.S., pricing starts at $599. The device is available in white or black, and with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage capacities.
Amazon this week has numerous all-time low prices on Apple Watch Series 10, including both GPS and cellular models. You'll find $70 off both 42mm and 46mm GPS Series 10 models in multiple case colors and band styles, and this time the deals do not require any coupon codes.
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Every price listed below is a match of the record low prices on the Apple Watch Series 10, and in most cases you can get the wearable delivered before the end of February. Our list below is focusing on GPS models, but there are also plenty of cellular devices being discounted on Amazon.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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WhatsApp is retesting a recently nixed setting that lets users choose whether the app automatically clears the unread message count badge on its Home Screen icon after every launch.
WABetaInfo reports that the feature is controlled by a new toggle in WhatsApp's iOS notification settings, called "Clear Badge." The setting carries the description: "Your home screen badge clears completely after every time you open the app."
The option, which is already available in WhatsApp for Android, should serve to reduce clutter on the user's Home Screen, and potentially lessen "unread anxiety." WABetaInfo notes that the feature may have already appeared for some users in the past few weeks, including those on the stable release from the App Store. However, for reasons that remain unclear, WhatsApp decided to disable them shortly after their initial release.
The feature is currently making its way through beta testing again via TestFlight, so expect it to roll out to all WhatsApp users in the coming days.
Google is removing its Gemini AI model from the Google app on iOS. The company announced the change in an email to Gemini users on February 18, according to AndroidCentral.
"We're making some changes to create an even better Gemini experience on iOS," the email read. "Gemini is now available as its own app, and that's now the best place to use Gemini. To continue using Gemini, download the new Gemini app from the App Store."
The change makes sense, since the standalone Gemini app already offered enhanced functionality compared to the limited integration within the Google app. It allows iPhone users to interact with Google's AI through text or voice queries and includes support for Gemini Extensions.
A key feature is Gemini Live, which wasn't available in the previous Google app implementation. When engaged in a conversation, Gemini Live appears in both the Dynamic Island and Lock Screen, letting you control your AI interactions without returning to the main app.
The Gemini app is free to download on the App Store, and Google offers premium features through Gemini Advanced subscriptions available as in-app purchases. Gemini Advanced is part of a Google One AI premium plan costing $18.99 per month. Apart from Gemini in Mail, Docs, and more, it includes access to Google's next-generation model, 1.5 Pro, priority access to new features, and a one million token context window. Users need to sign in with a Google account to access the service.
Apple has reportedly tested a wireless reverse charging feature for its upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models that would make the iPhone capable of delivering power to other Apple devices, according to the Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital.
The Chinese leaker claims that Apple is testing a 7.5W wireless charging feature for iPhone 17 Pro models, and it could be used to charge other Apple accessories like AirPods, Apple Watch, or potentially an upcoming MagSafe Battery Pack.
Long-running rumors of iPhone reverse wireless charging capabilities finally came to fruition in 2021 – albeit in a limited way – when Apple released the MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12 and newer models. When attached to an iPhone that was charging via Lightning, the iPhone could deliver power to the MagSafe Battery Pack, which was the first instance of an iPhone being able to route power to an accessory device.
Apple discontinued the MagSafe Battery Pack in September 2023 with the launch of the iPhone 15 lineup, which dropped the Lightning cable in favor of USB-C. iPhone 15 and later models can reverse charge Apple Watch, AirPods, and other smaller devices that support Power Delivery at up to 4.5 watts via the USB-C port, but the wireless reverse charging feature for Apple devices has not been implemented since the discontinuation of the MagSafe Battery Pack.
In 2022, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that a relaunched MagSafe Battery Pack would eventually transition to USB-C, but that has yet to happen. Likewise, In September 2023, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said he expected USB-C versions of the MagSafe Battery Pack to return "eventually." But he qualified that by saying "Don't hold your breath."
Instant Digital today admitted that while Apple is testing the reverse wireless charging feature for the iPhone 17 Pro models, the leaker does not know if the feature will actually be enabled on the devices when they officially launch. Apple is expected to release its iPhone 17 lineup around mid-September.
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