After three years, Apple has lastly unveiled its subsequent entry-level iPhone. The iPhone 16e takes over for the iPhone SE within the firm's lineup. It borrows the blueprint of the iPhone 14 and spices it up with (amongst different adjustments) an up to date processor that's prepared for Apple Intelligence. At $599, it's the most cost effective AI-equipped iPhone by $200.
As leaks urged, the fourth-generation iPhone 16e resembles the iPhone 14, the corporate's 2023 normal (non-Professional) mannequin. That is the primary entry-level mannequin to undertake the iPhone’s fashionable full-screen design. Meaning it's additionally the primary with Face ID. At 6.1 inches, that is the largest display but on an entry-level mannequin. (The 2022 iPhone SE is barely 4.7 inches.) However like Apple's 2017 to 2022 flagships, it has the notch on the prime of the show, so that you’ll nonetheless must pay for a dearer mannequin to get Dynamic Island.
Some exterior particulars differ from these of the iPhone 14. It has a USB-C port as a substitute of Lightning, and like older iPhone SE fashions, it has solely a single digicam lens on the again. Nonetheless, it's a 48MP "2-in-1" with built-in 2x zoom capabilities, which is sort of an improve over the past SE.
It additionally will get the Motion button, the customizable bodily shortcut button that debuted on the iPhone 15 Professional. Alternatively, it lacks the MagSafe charging discovered on Apple's dearer handsets: It solely helps Qi wi-fi charging as much as 7.5W. That aligns with the iPhone SE it replaces, nevertheless it may nonetheless be a giant disadvantage for some consumers.
One of many largest variations is inside, the place you'll discover the A18 chip. It's the identical one powering the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, although it solely has 4 GPU cores, in comparison with the 5 within the 16 and 16 plus and 6 within the iPhone 16 Professional fashions. It's additionally the primary iPhone with an in-house modem, which Apple is looking C1. Latest iPhones have all used Qualcomm modems, and with the change away the iPhone 16e loses out on the ultra-wideband 5G and Wi-Fi 7 assist that the remainder of the 16 sequence has. The iPhone 16e nonetheless performs good with sub-6GHz 5G and Wi-Fi 6, each of that are at present much more prevalent than their quicker cousins.
Along with quick and clean efficiency, the A18 allows Apple Intelligence, which the corporate lately started activating by default throughout onboarding. (You’ll be able to nonetheless flip it off in Settings.) You get Apple's generative AI writing instruments, Genmoji, Picture Playground, Visible Intelligence, ChatGPT integration and the lately tweaked notification summaries — all in a sub-$600 iPhone. Not dangerous in the event you're into these issues.
The brand new iPhone 16e is available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage tiers. You’ll be able to order it in black and white finishes.
At $599, the 2025 iPhone 16e is priced considerably comparably to Google's $499 Pixel 8a and Samsung's $400 Galaxy A35 for these wanting flagship-esque options in a extra reasonably priced handset. You’ll be able to pre-order the brand new iPhone 16e beginning on February 21 at 8AM ET, forward of its February 28 ship date.
Correction, Feb 19 2025, 3:50PM ET: This story initially said that the iPhone 16e was the most cost effective iPhone with Apple Intelligence by $300. The gulf between it and the iPhone 16 is definitely $200. We apologize for the error.
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