In a surprising move, Apple introduced a new phone with Apple Intelligence and the company’s first in-house 5G modem. Here are the key features and specs.
A new iPhone in February?! Apple launched the iPhone 16E on its site on Wednesday, expanding the iPhone 16 lineup and bringing much-needed changes from the 2022 iPhone SE, including a brand-new name, design, processor, and Apple Intelligence features.
The starting price of the iPhone 16E is $599 (£599, AU$999), which is $170 more than the previous SE’s starting price of $429. The iPhone 16 has always had a starting price of $799, so it rests on the upper end of the affordability spectrum. Just below it, in the budget category, we find the $499 Google Pixel 8A and the Samsung $650 Galaxy S24 FE.
While phone manufacturers have been racing one another to arm their high-flying devices with proprietary AI features, Apple states that not all its sweet-natured battery depleting has to be flagship. The iPhone 16E is powered by Apple’s A18 chip (the same one found in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus), enabling Apple Intelligence. This makes the new Apple phone a rare device: a sub-$600 model that can run the same AI features as its more expensive siblings.
Otherwise, the iPhone 16E offers an interesting value proposition. On paper, it seems like an upgrade to almost every aspect of the iPhone SE. However, it lacks the key attraction of the iPhone SE: a lower price and smaller design. That doesn’t mean the iPhone 16E isn’t worth its $600 starting price, which might be reduced through carrier deals and discounts at launch. But much like the older iPhone SE, you may wonder how long this phone will remain relevant. The iPhone 16E will be available for preorder this Friday, February 21, and go on sale Friday, February 28.
iPhone 16E Design
The iPhone 16E’s design is based on the aluminum body of the iPhone 14. The back is matte glass, helping reduce fingerprint smudges. In place of the mute switch, there’s an action button to activate shortcuts. Since the iPhone 16E lacks a camera control button, you’ll be able to trigger Visual Intelligence Search using the action button. The phone has a USB-C port for charging (instead of the iPhone 14’s Lightning port).
With the iPhone 16E, Apple has discontinued selling phones with the home button, which defined the first decade of iPhone design, starting with the original model. The iPhone 16E also has a 6.1-inch screen, meaning Apple no longer offers a truly small iPhone option. But the screen locked at a 60Hz refresh rate feels like an oversight, especially since most budget Android handsets now feature displays starting at 90Hz. Also, note that the iPhone 16E has a screen notch and lacks the Dynamic Island cutout.
Strangely, the iPhone 16E doesn’t come in many colors: only black or white.
The original iPhone SE launched in 2016 with a design based on the iPhone 5S. SE stood for “Special Edition,” though in recent years, some of us have referred to it as the “Small Edition.” In 2020, Apple released the second-generation iPhone SE, which was based on the iPhone 8 design but featured the iPhone 11 series’ A13 Bionic processor. In 2022, the third generation of the iPhone SE came out with a design similar to the 2020 version, but with the iPhone 13 series’ A15 Bionic chip.
iPhone 16E’s C1 Modem and Battery
The iPhone 16E also features something no other iPhone has: an Apple-designed 5G modem. Called the C1 chip, Apple claims in the launch video on its site that this is “the most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone.” The C1 modem supports 5G but doesn’t support the faster millimeter-wave 5G found in places like stadiums. It will be interesting to test the phone’s call and data speeds after getting hands-on with the iPhone 16E. Apple also mentions that the combination of the A18 and C1 chips improves efficiency and extends battery life. For phone manufacturers, there are two ways to win over customers: lower the price and improve battery life. While Apple didn’t offer a lower price than the SE, its battery life could very well be the phone’s best feature. Once again, I’m eager to test the 16E.
One downside is that the new iPhone lacks MagSafe charging and accessory support. Not having MagSafe is a bit disappointing since it means you can’t use magnetic accessories and will only be able to wirelessly charge the phone at a slow 7.5-watt rate. (However, it can be wired charged at 20 watts.)
iPhone 16E Cameras
The iPhone 16E comes with a single rear camera featuring a 48-megapixel sensor. While there is no ultra-wide option, the main camera has a high enough resolution to crop the sensor for 2x zoom, which is not quite the same as a second camera, but close enough.
On the front, there’s a 12-megapixel camera that supports Face ID and offers autofocus for selfies.
Final Thoughts on iPhone 16E
In some ways, the iPhone 16E carries forward the legacy of the SE series and shows affordable phone created by Apple by using parts from older iPhones. However, the change in name also marks a symbolic shift from Apple’s budget phone to an affordable iPhone 16 — much like Samsung’s Galaxy FE models.
With the name change of the iPhone 16E, it will be interesting to see how Apple handles upgrades. Unlike the years-long gaps between iPhone SE releases, will this be a phone Apple updates every year? Will there be an iPhone 17E? Only time will tell. I’m excited to test the iPhone 16E, so keep an eye for more coverage and our upcoming review.
