- Apple has officially launched the iPhone 16e, aligning it with the latest iPhone lineup rather than continuing the SE branding.
- The iPhone 16e adopts an iPhone 14-style design with Face ID, a 6.1-inch OLED display, and an Action Button.
- Priced at $599, the iPhone 16e offers a single 48MP rear camera, no MagSafe support, and lacks an IP rating.
Following numerous rumors about the product’s naming, Apple has finally made the iPhone 16e a reality. We’ve been hearing about the iPhone 16e or iPhone SE 4 (2025) for ages, and it arrived just in time, before I thought I’d have to wait for another Android flagship.
Well, the iPhone 16e brings a few major upgrades over its predecessor, including a better chipset, a polished design, Face ID, and a $599 price tag (not the fun part, but hey, we had to mention it to keep things interesting). Now, let’s dive into what the iPhone 16e has to offer.
iPhone 16e: A New Name for Apple’s Budget iPhone
Yes, the iPhone 16e is finally here. Instead of taking the iPhone SE 4 or iPhone SE 2024/2025 moniker, it adopts the iPhone 16e name, aligning it with Apple’s latest iPhone lineup.
A Major Design Overhaul
What’s new, you ask? For starters, the iPhone 16e now features an iPhone 14-esque design, marking a major upgrade over the 2022 iPhone SE. Touch ID is gone, replaced by Face ID housed in an iconic notch (not the Dynamic Island), giving you more screen real estate to enjoy.
The display sees a major upgrade, with the iPhone 16e now sporting a 6.1-inch OLED panel, closely matching the iPhone 16’s 6.12-inch screen. The phone is 0.7mm shorter and 0.1mm narrower than the iPhone 16. While there’s no mute button, it features a customizable Action Button, which debuted with the iPhone 16 series.
Performance Boost with A18 Bionic
Under the hood, the iPhone 16e is powered by the Apple A18 Bionic chipset, putting it nearly five generations ahead of the original iPhone SE and three generations ahead of the 2022 model. While it’s now on par with the iPhone 16 series, it’s not quite identical, meaning there will be a slight difference in performance.
The iPhone 16e is Apple Intelligence-ready, thanks to the 8GB RAM and the powerful A18 SoC. Storage has also been upgraded, with the base model now starting at 128GB—double the space offered by its predecessor.
Apple’s Custom C1 Modem Arrives
As previously speculated, Apple has introduced its in-house Apple C1 modem in the iPhone 16e after years of development. While this change doesn’t impact users directly, it marks a significant shift for Apple, reducing its reliance on Qualcomm and other providers.
A Single 48MP Camera—With a Catch
Moving on to the camera setup, it’s an interesting one. The iPhone 16e features a single 48MP rear camera capable of capturing impressive shots, though the lack of additional lenses may be a drawback. Apple likely made this choice to keep costs down, but a dual-camera setup would have been a welcome addition.
Nevertheless, there’s no changing it now—the iPhone 16e is here with a single rear camera. On the front, however, there’s an upgrade, as the selfie shooter jumps to 12MP from the 7MP found on its predecessor.
Missing Features and Limitations
There are some drawbacks as well. The latest budget-iPhone lacks MagSafe support and doesn’t come with an IP rating. It also features a standard USB-C port, similar to the non-Pro iPhone 15 and 16 models, meaning fast charging isn’t supported.
Pricing and Availability
Unless you’re reading from the bottom up (which would be unusual—but hey, we let it slide at True-Tech), you already know that the iPhone 16e is priced at $599 for the 128GB variant. While you do get more storage, you’re also paying a premium over the 2022 iPhone SE, which launched at $429. That’s a hefty $170 jump—something to consider if you’re thinking of upgrading.
Pre-orders kick off on Friday, February 21, with shipping set to begin a week later on February 28.
