A brand new iPhone in February?! Apple launched the iPhone 16E on its web site Wednesday, increasing the iPhone 16 line whereas additionally bringing a much-needed overhaul to the 2022 iPhone SE with an all-new identify, design, processor and Apple Intelligence options.
The iPhone 16E begins at $599 (£599, AU$999), which is $170 greater than the earlier SE’s $429 beginning value. Against this, the common iPhone 16 begins at $799. The worth places the cellphone in direction of the upper finish of the affordable phone market, between rivals just like the $499 Google Pixel 8A and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 FE, which begins at $650.
At a time when phone-makers have wager their success on implementing customized synthetic intelligence options into their gadgets quicker than their rivals, Apple makes it clear that its AI is not restricted to its costly flagship gadgets. Powering the iPhone 16E is Apple’s A18 chip (the identical one discovered within the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus) so it may run Apple Intelligence. This makes the brand new Apple cellphone a rarity: a sub-$600 system that may run the identical AI options as its costlier siblings.
In any other case, the iPhone 16E has a curious worth proposition. On paper it looks like an improve in almost each solution to the iPhone SE. But it surely lacks the iPhone SE’s primary appeals: a low value and a small design. That is to not say that the iPhone 16E is not price its $600 beginning value, which can little doubt be decrease with service offers and reductions at launch. However just like the previous iPhone SE, you must surprise how lengthy will this cellphone be related for?
The iPhone 16E might be available to preorder this Friday, Feb. 21, and can go on sale on Friday, Feb. 28.
iPhone 16E design
The iPhone 16E has an Motion button that may set off a shortcut or begin a Visible Intelligence search.
The iPhone 16E’s design relies on the iPhone 14’s aluminum body. The again glass is matte, which ought to assist hold fingerprints from accumulating. In lieu of a mute swap, there’s an Motion button for activating a shortcut. Because the iPhone 16E lacks a Digital camera Management button, you can set off Visible Intelligence searches with the Motion button. The cellphone has a USB-C port for charging (as an alternative of the iPhone 14’s Lightning port).
The iPhone 16E marks the tip of Apple promoting a cellphone with a house button, which outlined the primary decade of iPhone designs, courting again to the original one. The iPhone 16E additionally has a 6.1-inch display screen, which signifies that Apple not sells a really small iPhone choice. However the display screen, locked at a 60Hz refresh fee, looks like a miss by Apple when the vast majority of budget Android handsets sport excessive refresh-rate shows beginning at 90Hz. Additionally, notice that the iPhone 16E has a display screen notch and lacks a Dynamic Island cutout.
Oddly the iPhone 16E does not are available in a colour: solely black or white.
The original iPhone SE launched in 2016 and its design was primarily based on the iPhone 5S. SE stood for “particular version,” although over time a few of us have referred to it as “small version.” In 2020, Apple launched the second-generation iPhone SE with a design primarily based on the iPhone 8 however with the A13 Bionic processor from the iPhone 11 series. In 2022, the third-generation iPhone SE launched. Its design was largely much like the 2020 model however had the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 series.
The iPhone 16E’s C1 modem and battery
The iPhone 16E helps Apple Intelligence, together with enjoyable options like GenMoji.
The iPhone 16E additionally has one thing no different iPhone has: an Apple-designed 5G modem. It is known as the C1 chip, and in a launch video on Apple’s web site, the corporate claims that it’s the “most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone.”
The C1 modem helps 5G, however not the quick millimeter-wave 5G present in locations like stadiums. It is going to be attention-grabbing testing cellphone calls and information speeds as soon as we get our palms on the iPhone 16E.
Apple additionally says that the mixture of the A18 and C1 chip raises the effectivity and provides as much as an extended battery life. There are two methods for a phone-maker to achieve clients: decrease a cellphone’s value and lengthen its battery life. Whereas Apple did not give us a lower cost than the SE, its battery life is perhaps one of the best characteristic. Once more, I stay up for testing the 16E.
The brand new iPhone additionally lacks help for MagSafe charging and equipment. No MagSafe is a little bit of a bummer, since meaning you’ll be able to’t use magnetic equipment and may solely wirelessly cost the cellphone at a gradual 7.5-watt pace. (It may cost wired at 20 watts, although.)
iPhone 16E cameras
The rear has a single 48-megapixel digital camera.
The iPhone 16E sports activities a single rear digital camera with a 48-megapixel sensor. Whereas you aren’t getting even an ultrawide choice, the principle digital camera has a excessive sufficient decision to do sensor cropping to supply a 2x magnification – not fairly the identical as having a second digital camera, however presumably shut.
Across the entrance is a 12-megapixel digital camera that helps Face ID and has autofocus for selfies.
iPhone 16E closing ideas for now
In a single sense the iPhone 16E carries the mantle of the SE sequence and the way Apple makes use of components of previous iPhones to create an reasonably priced one. However that identify change additionally represents a symbolic change from Apple having an affordable cellphone to Apple having an reasonably priced iPhone 16 — very like how Samsung has its Galaxy FE fashions.
With the identify change to iPhone 16E, it will likely be curious to see how Apple handles upgrades. Versus the a number of years between iPhone SE releases, will this be a cellphone that Apple updates yearly? Will there be an iPhone 17E? All this stays to be seen. I’m excited to check the iPhone 16E, so hold an eye fixed out for extra protection on the cellphone at CNET and our assessment coming quickly.
Apple iPhone 16E Specs vs. Apple iPhone 16, iPhone SE (2022), iPhone 15
| Apple iPhone 16E | Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone SE (2022) | Apple iPhone 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show dimension, tech, decision, refresh fee | 6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR OLED show; 2,532×1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh fee | 6.1-inch OLED Tremendous Retina XDR show; 2,556 x 1,179 pixel decision; 60Hz refresh fee | 4.7-inch LCD; (1,334×750 pixels); 60 Hz | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556×1,179 pixels |
| Pixel density | 460ppi | 460ppi | 326ppi | 460 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 in. | 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in. | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in | 2.82 x 5.81 x 0.31 in |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm | 71.6 x 147.6 x 7.8 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 167g (5.88 oz.) | 170g (6 oz.) | 5.09 oz; 144g | 171g (6.02 oz) |
| Cell software program | iOS 18 | iOS 18 | iOS 15 | iOS 17 |
| Digital camera | 48-megapixel (vast) | 48-megapixel (vast), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) | 12-megapixel (vast) | 48-megapixel (vast), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) |
| Entrance-facing digital camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 7-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video seize | 4K at 60fps | 4K at 60fps; spatial video at 1080p at 30fps | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | A18 | A18 | A15 Bionic | A16 Bionic |
| RAM/storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Expandable storage | No | No | None | None |
| Battery | As much as 26 hours video playback, 21 hours streamed video playback, 90 hours of audio playback. 20W wired charging, 7.5W Qi wi-fi charging | As much as 22 hours video playback; as much as 18 hours video playback (streamed). 20W wired charging. MagSafe wi-fi charging as much as 25W with 30W adapter or greater; Qi2 as much as 15W | Battery sized not disclosed (charger not included; helps wi-fi charging) | Undisclosed; Apple claims as much as 20 hours of video playback (16 hours streamed) |
| Fingerprint sensor | No, Face ID | None (Face ID) | House button | None (Face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | Lightning | USB-C (USB 2.0) |
| Headphone jack | No | No | None | None |
| Particular options | Motion button, Apple C1 5G modem, Apple Intelligence, Ceramic Protect, Emergency SOS, satellite tv for pc connectivity, IP68 resistance | Apple Intelligence, Motion button, Digital camera Management button, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2,000 nits show brightness vary, IP68 resistance. Colours: black, white, pink, teal, ultramarine. | 5G-enabled; helps 25W wired quick charging; Waterproof (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wi-fi charging | Dynamic Island; 5G (mmw/Sub6); MagSafe; waterproof (IP68); wi-fi charging; eSIM; satellite tv for pc connectivity |
| US value begins at | $599 (128GB), $699 (256GB), $899 (512GB) | $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB) | $399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB) | $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB) |
| UK value begins at | £599 (128GB), £699 (256GB), £899 (512GB) | £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB) | £419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB) | £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB) |
| Australia value begins at | AU$999 (128GB), AU$1,199 (256GB), AU$1,549 (512GB) | AU$1,399 (128GB), AU$1,599 (256GB), AU$1,949 (512GB) | AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB) | AU$1,499 (128GB), AU$1,699 (256GB), AU$2,049 (512GB) |
