8 things you should know about Apple’s new budget phone, the iPhone 16e
Last week, Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e, the fourth iteration of its entry-level iPhone line, almost three years after the previous budget model was last released. The 16e is available on Feb. 28, though pre-orders have already started.
So what are the buzziest updates that you should know about?
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1. The phone is officially part of the iPhone 16 lineup
Since first introducing the lower-cost iPhone in 2016, it’s been known as the iPhone SE (the two subsequent models were called the iPhone SE 2 and iPhone SE 3).
But by calling the fourth version the iPhone 16e, Apple’s new naming convention aims to tie its budget iPhone to its flagship smartphone lineup, which consists of the iPhone 16, 16 Plus and the higher-end iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.
2. The iPhone 16e saw a price bump
The iPhone 16e’s starting price is $599, a $170 increase from the iPhone SE 3 released in 2022. However, this price bump also comes with a host of new features, including artificial intelligence (known as Apple Intelligence), which is available on only a handful of newer iPhone models.
3. Improved battery life and a stronger chip — but fewer colors
In contrast to the bright and bold colors that Apple debuted with the iPhone 16 (e.g. ultramarine, teal and pink), the 6.1-inch display iPhone 16e will only be sold in basic black and white. But that makes sense for a budget phone focused on offering the biggest bang for your buck.
The iPhone 16e’s battery is getting a big boost: Apple says the 16e has the longest battery life out of any 6.1-inch iPhone out there, lasting up to 12 hours longer than all previous iPhone SE models.
The 16e also comes with the blazing fast A18 chip — currently in the iPhone 16 — which will help power the 16e’s AI tools.
4. The phone is Apple’s cheapest with Apple Intelligence
Prior to last week, the only iPhones that offered Apple’s suite of artificial intelligence tools were the regular iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Now the iPhone 16e joins that group.
That means the iPhone 16e is the cheapest phone that also offers AI features such as the ability to create new emojis; easily search through a user’s vast photo and video libraries to find old images; the Clean Up tool to remove distracting elements from photos; the visual intelligence tool that lets users take pictures of things to learn more about them; and more.
The iPhone 16e also offers ChatGPT integrated into its Writing Tools and within Siri and allows users to type to Siri.
5. The iPhone 16e gets the Action Button
The Action Button replaces the traditional mute switch, and users can customize it to use as a shortcut to access their favorite apps and features (such as turning on the phone’s flashlight, recording voice memos, identifying songs with Shazam, unlocking visual intelligence and more). It was first introduced with the 15 Pro and is only on a handful of newer iPhone models.
6. There’s still only one camera
At a time while most smartphones have at least two cameras, the 16e is sticking to its single-camera budget roots. However, that single camera is a vast improvement over its predecessor, with its 48-megapixel rear camera including an integrated 2x telephoto lens, which Apple bills as having “the equivalent of two cameras in one.”
7. Other key features
The 16e is also getting all the features Apple added to its past few iPhone iterations, including Face ID integration (to unlock the phone or to use with certain apps and payments); charging with the USB-C cable (instead of Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector); Crash Detection for car accidents; and a host of emergency features that can run on satellite when the user is outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage, including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, texting via Messages and Find My.
8. Features the 16e is missing
There are two features Apple fans were disappointed to see didn’t make it on the iPhone 16e: Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped area at the top of the phone screen that displays notifications, alerts and ongoing activities; and Magsafe compatibility, which means magnetic accessories won’t automatically attach to the 16e.
However, the 16e does support Qi wireless charging, and owners can easily get around the MagSafe issue by buying a MagSafe-compatible phone case.
The iPhone 16e officially goes on sale this Friday, Feb. 28.
