iPhone 16e: This is what you need to know about Apple’s most affordable phone
The iPhone 16e is Apple’s most affordable model in the iPhone lineup. It replaces both the iPhone 14 and the iPhone SE and is a departure from the “classic” design of those older SE phones. Here’s everything you need to know about the new phone.
iPhone 16e release date
The iPhone 16e was announced on February 19, 2025.
Pre-orders started on February 21.
The iPhone 16s became available to buy on February 28.
New iPhone 16e price: How much does the iPhone 16e cost?
The iPhone 16e starts at $599/£599
The iPhone 16e replaces the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 in the line up. Like the iPhone 14, the iPhone 16e sells for $599/£599. The iPhone SE did start at $429/£429, but that was for a 64GB model, the 128GB iPhone SE cost $479/£479.
CapacityU.S.U.K.CanadaAustraliaiPhone 16e 128GB$599£599.00CA$899.00A$999.00iPhone 16e 256GB$699£699.00CA$1,499.00A$1,199.00iPhone 16e 512GB$899£899.00CA$1,399.00A$1,549.00What the iPhone 16e cost at launch.
This means that the cost of owning an iPhone is much higher that it use to be, especially in comparison to the price of the iPhone SE back in 2016 when it started at $399. But, with higher component pricing and the effect of higher import duties, higher prices isn’t really a big surprise.
Luckily you don’t have to pay the full price. You can get a good deal on a new iPhone 16e, read: Where to get the best iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max deals in the U.S. and Where to get the best iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max deals in the U.K.
The price of the iPhone 16e actually looks good compared to the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 15. The iPhone 16 is $200 more, starting at $799, while the less-powerful, non-Apple Intelligence-compatible, iPhone 15 is $100 more at $699. See: Why we don’t recommend the iPhone 15.
That begs the question, why not remove the iPhone 15 and sell the iPhone 16e for $599? Last October, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed the iPhone 16e is intended to help Apple compete with low-end Android phones in China, so a low cost iPhone capable of Apple Intelligence is necessary, and iPhone 16e fits the bill.
For advice about which iPhone to buy take a look at our iPhone comparison chart where we compare every iPhone, or read our iPhone buying guide. We also compare the iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16e with the iPhone 15 to see if it’s worth saving money or spending more, and the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 16e to see if it’s worth upgrading.
iPhone 16e design: How is the new iPhone different than the SE?
From the back the iPhone 16e shares one feature with the iPhone SE – the single camera lens. But that’s where the similarities end. The iPhone 16e is a major design change from the iPhone SE. It moves away from the iPhone 8 chassis to something more like modern iPhones, with Face ID and a full-screen display.
In fact, the iPhone is more like the iPhone 14 to look at from the front, so in many ways this is a replacement for the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE in both looks and features.
Apple
Face ID instead of Touch ID
Touch ID, which has been a staple of the SE line since its debut, is gone. This is bad news for those who prefer a Home button with a fingerprint sensor–Apple no longer has a phone like that in its lineup.
Instead it uses Face ID to secure your iPhone, so only your face (or passcode) will unlock it. Face ID is a feature that was introduced with the iPhone X back in 2017. That’s a long time ago now: it’s time for Touch ID to retire.
A notch but no Dynamic Island
The Face ID technology is concealed behind the notch at the top of the screen, just like the notch on the iPhone 14. It does not have the Dynamic Island that is on the other iPhone 16 models, which is essentially a smaller notch that incorporates software elements. So while you’re getting a much larger screen than before, you won’t be able to see alerts and current activities in the Dynamic Island.
Action Button is the new mute switch
The iPhone 16e has an Action Button instead of a mute switch, which was standard on all previous iPhone SE models as well as the iPhone 14. The Action Button can be customized in a variety of ways, including as a mute switch.
Apple
iPhone 16e specs: Apple Intelligence support and a lot more
Like the other iPhones in Apple’s current iPhone 16 lineup, the iPhone 16e supports Apple Intelligence. One of the biggest new features, a massive expansion of Siri capabilities, is due for release in iOS 18.4 in March or April.
Processor & RAM
Like the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, the iPhone 16e has an A18 chip with 8GB of RAM, a massive upgrade over the A15 chip with 4GB of RAM in the SE. However, the A18 chip is a little less capable than the one in the iPhone 16, with 4 GPU cores versus 5 GPU cores on the iPhone 16.
Battery
One big benefit of the iPhone 16e is rather impressive battery life. Apple claims 26 hours for the iPhone 16e, while the iPhone 16 only gets 22 hours. (The iPhone 14 offered 20 hours and the iPhone SE was 15 hours).
It turns out the iPhone 16e has a surprisingly large battery, with a capacity of 3961mAh, nearly double that of the iPhone SE’s 2018 mAh battery. We compare every iPhone battery separately.
5G modem
The iPhone 16e is the first iPhone to feature Apple’s own 5G modem, called the C1. It supports sub-6GHz 5G and 4G LTE with 4×4 MIMO, and Apple calls it “the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone.” As previously expected, it does not support the faster mmWave 5G connectivity but neither did the previous SE.
USB-C
The iPhone 16e has a USB-C port for charging and data transfers. With its introduction and the discontinuation of the iPhone SE, Apple no longer has an iPhone with Lightning in its current lineup.
Apple
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
The iPhone 16e supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. This is a bit of a downgrade—Apple has supported iPhone 6E since the iPhone 15 Pro and all of the other iPhone 16 models have WiFi 6E. However, you’ll need to connect to a newer WiFi 6E or 7 router to enjoy the faster speeds.
Storage
The new iPhone 16e is the last iPhone to move to 128GB of storage, doubling the 64GB base storage in the iPhone SE 3. The iPhone 16e is also available with 256GB or 512GB of storage for $699 and $899, respectively.
iPhone 16e camera: Good enough
The iPhone 16e has a single 48MP lens on the rear. It’s a 48MP camera that can record video in 4K with Dolby Vision up to 60 fps and also supports Spatial Audio. Apple calls it a “2-in-1 camera system,” described as having an integrated 2x telephoto capability.
The front-facing camera is a 12MP TrueDepth camera, like the other iPhone 16 models. We got our first look at a “dummy model” for the new iPhone 16e in January from leaker Sonny Dickson, and it showed an iPhone 14-like smartphone with a single rear camera.
When will Apple update the iPhone 16e to 17e?
Being introduced months after the September release of the standard iPhone and the iPhone Pro models, the iPhone 16e shares a similar release timeline with the iPhone SE. Does this mean we will wait a year (or more) for Apple to introduce the iPhone 17e, or will it update the iPhone 16e in September with the other iPhones? See: iPhone 17 release date.
It may make more sense for Apple to keep the iPhone 16e in the line up and drop the price, while replacing the iPhone 15 with the iPhone 17e in September. Alternatively, we could be waiting a couple of years for an update, if Apple follows a similar schedule to the iPhone SE. We will have to wait to see.
Here’s when the three previous iPhone SE models made their debut:
iPhone SE (3rd gen): March 2022
iPhone SE (2nd gen): April 2020
iPhone SE (1st gen): March 2016
iPhone history
The iPhone 16 range and the iPhone 15 are the current-generation models available from Apple. We’re also expecting iPhone 17 to launch in late 2025. Below you can find links to our reviews of all iPhone models, including the latest generation. Learn more about all the new Apple products coming this year and when is the next Apple event. You might also want to check out our advice on when is the best time to buy a new iPhone, our iPhone buying guide, and our comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today.
iPhone SE (1st generation; 2016) review
iPhone 11 Pro Max (2019) review
iPhone SE (2nd generation; 2020) review
iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) review
iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) review
iPhone SE (3rd generation; 2022) review
iPhone 14 Pro Max (2022) review
