Apple launches iPhone 16e: a cheaper iPhone 16 or a more expensive SE?

Apple's most affordable iPhone now starts at $599

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The big picture: Apple has introduced a redesigned version of its entry-level iPhone that is also debuting new branding. The iPhone 16e is based on the flat-edge design that Apple reintroduced with the iPhone 12 and comes packed with modern hardware and software capabilities – but at a price point that significantly increases the cost of entry compared to the old SE.

Apple's latest features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display (2,532 x 1,170 pixels, 460 PPI) with HDR that's powered by an A18 chip (six CPU cores - two performance cores / four efficiency cores), four GPU cores, and a 16-core Neural Engine) and paired with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of onboard storage. For comparison, the A18 in the standard iPhone 16 has five GPU cores – everything else is virtually the same.

The 16e is ever so slightly smaller and lighter than the iPhone 16, with measurements of 146.7 mm (H) x 71.5 mm (W) x 7.80 mm (D) versus 147.6 mm (H) x 71.6 mm (W) x 7.80 mm (D) for the original iPhone 16 – or, just different enough that cases probably aren't comfortably interchangeable between the two models. The 16e is three grams lighter than the base iPhone 16, and is offered in your choice of matte white and black finishes.

Notably, this isn't the slim and light iPhone 17 Air we've heard about in recent months.

The iPhone 16e is the first iPhone to feature the Apple C1 chip, the company's long-awaited in-house cellular modem. According to Cupertino, it is the most power-efficient modem ever featured in an iPhone.

Around back, you'll find a 48-megapixel camera with a 26mm, f/1.6 aperture lens and optical image stabilization. The front-facing TrueDepth camera is a 12-megapixel unit with f/1.9 aperture and autofocus that also delivers Face ID to unlock your phone, authenticate purchases, sign into apps and services, and more.

Like the iPhone 16, the new 16e carries an IP68 rating against the elements and includes a customizable Action Button that can be programmed to perform various functions like opening the camera app, activating the flashlight, triggering shortcuts, or serving as a silencer for the ringer.

Wireless charging comes standard and in addition to USB-C connectivity. Battery life is rated at up to 26 hours of local video playback, or 21 hours when streaming, we're told.

You also get the benefit of satellite-based services including emergency SOS, Find My via satellite, and roadside assistance. With the latest version of iOS 18, users can also tap into all the benefits afforded by Apple Intelligence like ChatGPT in Writing Tools and Siri, and graphics creation in Image Playground and Genmoji.

Pre-orders for the new iPhone 16e go live on February 21 ahead of general availability a week later on February 28. Pricing starts at $599, which is much higher than the $429.99 that the iPhone SE 3 launched at in March 2022. Sure, you're getting a more powerful and capable device, but is it $170 better?

It's also worth noting that Apple has discontinued a handful of lower-cost phones today including the iPhone 14 (from $599), the iPhone 14 Plus (from $699), and the iPhone SE 3. The base iPhone 16 starts at $799. For now, the cheapest path to getting into a new iPhone is the 16e.