- Apple’s iPhone 16e promises to be a worthy technological successor to the discontinued iPhone SE line.
- Pricing starts from $999 (128 GB) and works its way up to $1,549 (512GB).
- Pre-orders open later this week on February 22nd before hitting shelves on February 28th.
In the age of consumer belt-tightening, Apple has decided to launch an all-new affordable iPhone model, replacing the beloved iPhone SE line.
Feast your eyes on the iPhone 16e: the sub-$1,000 answer to Apple’s market-leading flagship, complete with A Super Retina XDR display (OLED), the latest A18 chip – thereby offering powerful performance and access to Apple Intelligence – 6-core CPU, customisable Action Button, and a notch in place of the usual Dynamic Island.
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Measuring 6.1 inches against the 2022 iPhone SE’s 4.7 inches, there’s also a single 48MP 2-in-1 camera system, similar to that of the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus; only without a telephoto or ultrawide lens, and limited to just 2x zoom. The Camera Control button is another notable absence.
The standout detail in our opinion is an improved battery life thanks to Apple’s own modem (the first it’s ever built): the C1. According to the Cupertino-based tech giant, the iPhone 16e has the best battery life on any 6.1-inch iPhone – rated for up to six hours more juice than the iPhone 11 and up to 12 hours more than any iPhone SE.
Apple also claims it provides up to 26 hours of video playback against the iPhone 16 base model’s 22 hours. Which is certainly something.
Other familiar features include Face ID, USB-C, eSIM capabilities, IP6 water resistance, as well as wireless charging, but sadly no MagSafe.
“iPhone 16e packs in the features our users love about the iPhone 16 lineup, including breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, and Apple Intelligence,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing.
“We’re so excited for iPhone 16e to complete the lineup as a powerful, more affordable option to bring the iPhone experience to even more people.”
While this has been styled as a wallet-friendly alternative to the main iPhone 16 line, storage and chipset disparity aside, it’s still noticeably pricier than the final iterations of the iPhone SE, verging squarely into mid-range territory.
Just for comparison:
| iPhone 16e | iPhone SE (2022) |
| $999 (128GB) | $719 (64GB) |
| $1,199 (256GB) | $799 (128GB) |
| $1,549 (512GB) | $969 (256GB) |
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Ain’t inflation a kick in the head?
Locally, pre-orders for the iPhone 16e open later this week on February 22nd at 12 AM (AEDT) before hitting shelves on February 28th – available colourways are black and white in matte finishes. Find out more below.
