Apple Unveils Affordable iPhone 16e

On Wednesday, Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level model. Replacing the 2022 iPhone SE, the iPhone 16e marks a shift from the significantly lower price point of its predecessor. Priced at $599, it sits closer to the $799 iPhone 16, released last fall. Pre-orders begin Friday, February 21st, with availability starting February 28th.

The iPhone 16e debuts Apple's C1 cellular modem, a crucial component often overlooked. Apple's track record with in-house chips (M1, A-series) is strong, but the C1's performance is critical for connectivity. Hopefully, lessons learned from the iPhone 4's "Antennagate" incident have ensured reliable connectivity for the iPhone 16e.

iPhone 16e

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From the front, the iPhone 16e closely resembles the iPhone 14, featuring an identical 6.1-inch OLED display with a 2532x1170 resolution and 1200-nit peak brightness. While this matches the iPhone 14, it falls short of the iPhone 16's sharper and brighter display. It does include the Action button and a USB-C port, but lacks Camera Control.

The rear design distinguishes the iPhone 16e, sporting a single 48MP camera, similar to previous iPhone SE models. Sharing similarities with the iPhone 16's main camera, it omits sensor-shift stabilization, the latest Photographic Styles, and adjustable portrait mode focus. The selfie camera, however, appears identical, retaining Face ID functionality.

The phone's construction uses aluminum, a glass back, and Apple's Ceramic Shield on the front. While Apple continues to promote this Ceramic Shield as "tougher than any smartphone glass," it's worth noting that a newer, supposedly "two times tougher" version exists, raising questions about the iPhone 16e's durability, especially considering wear observed on the iPhone 16 during review.

Internally, the iPhone 16e showcases Apple's product stratification. The iPhone 16 Pro boasts a faster A18 Pro chip, while the iPhone 16e uses an A18 chip with the same number of CPU cores but a reduced 4-core GPU compared to the iPhone 16's 5-core GPU. Performance is expected to be lower than the iPhone 16. However, the inclusion of the Neural Engine ensures compatibility with Apple Intelligence features.

The iPhone 16e's lower price point necessitates compromises. While not overly compromised, the discount is less substantial than earlier iPhone SE models. The $599 price tag, while making it Apple's cheapest, contrasts with the 2022 iPhone SE's $429 launch price, which offered the same chip as the $799 iPhone 13. Although its design was dated, the nearly 50% discount was significant. The iPhone 16e, while based on a slightly older design, has received minor annual updates since 2018.

The iPhone 16e's actual performance remains to be seen. With competitive Android alternatives like the OnePlus 13R available around $600, Apple may face challenges attracting buyers outside its existing ecosystem.