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iPhone 16e: release date, price and everything you need to know

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A view of both long edges of the iPhone 16e
Apple

The iPhone 16e has arrived, formally taking over from Apple’s ‘SE’ range of handsets which have been moved to the graveyard. The 16e features an A18 chipset, OLED screen, USB-C port, Apple Intelligence, and excellent battery life (so Apple claims), but no MagSafe support or always-on display.

While the spotlight always seems to be on Apple’s mainline iPhones, the iPhone 16e is potentially a good pick for those on more of a budget, but this is by no means a cheap phone. It’s just more affordable than the rest of the iPhone 16 series.

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The original iPhone SE came out in 2016, and then Apple revamped it in 2020 and 2022 by giving it some more modern hardware. Apple has rejigged the naming for its most affordable iPhone, with the 16e sitting at the base of the iPhone 16 family.

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iPhone 16e release date and price

The iPhone 16e price is $599. That’s higher than expected, with rumors leading up to the launch suggesting it would fall somewhere in the $450-$500 bracket. The iPhone SE 3 which it’s technically replacing was listed at $429 before being pulled from sale ahead of the 16e launching.

The iPhone 16e release date is set for February 28, 2025. If you’ve already decided you’re buying an iPhone 16e, pre-orders are open now.

iPhone 16e design

The iPhone 16e looks similar to the iPhone 11, 12 and 13. The 6.1-inch display dominates the front, with the Face ID notch interrupting its top edge. The notch is the same size as the one which debuted on the iPhone 13 – with the iPhone 11 and 12 featuring a wider bar. Round the back you’ll find just a single camera (rather than the dual setup on the aforementioned 11, 12 and 13).

Apple says the iPhone 16e has the toughest back glass in a smartphone, while the screen is covered with the company’s Ceramic Shield technology which it claims is tougher than any smartphone glass. The iPhone 16e should be able to handle a few drops and knocks in everyday life then.

Button placement is where you’d expect for an iPhone, with the power key on the right, and a trio of buttons on the left with the action button sitting above the volume up and down keys.

MagSafe is not included in the iPhone 16e, which means any MagSafe accessories you may have will not be compatible with this handset. There is, however, a USB-C port for charging, and with the iPhone SE 3 now off sale the Lightning port has been completely removed from the iPhone range. And unsurprisingly the iPhone 16e does not have a headphone jack.

A press image of the Apple iPhone 16e.

iPhone 16e colors

The iPhone 16e is available in just two colors, black or white. Gone are the days of plentiful color options. If you want a wider selection of hues, you’ll need to pay more for another member of the iPhone 16 family.

If you want to add a splash of color to your iPhone 16e, Apple is also selling silicone cases in five colors: winter blue, fuchsia, lake green, black, and white. They’ll set you back $39, but you can expect plenty of third-party iPhone 16e cases to be available as well. We’ve already rounded up some of the best iPhone 16e cases for you to check out.

iPhone 16e display

The iPhone 16e comes with a 6.1-inch OLED screen, with a 60Hz refresh rate, 2532 x 1170-pixel resolution and 460 ppi pixel density. The Super Retina XDR display’s max brightness is 800 nits, while it can achieve a peak brightness of 1,200 nits.

A feature it doesn’t have that the rest of the iPhone 16 family does in the always-on display. If you want to check for messages, or just see the time, you’ll need to manually wake the screen of the 16e.

iPhone 16e power and software

The iPhone 16e comes with Apple’s A18 chipset, with a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU and 16-core neural engine. By name, that’s the same chip you get in the iPhone 16, but it’s not actually identical. The A18 chip in the iPhone 16e doesn’t provide as much grunt with one fewer GPU core versus its namesake in the 16. CPU and neural engine cores are the same, however.

While Apple doesn’t list the RAM of its phones, early iPhone 16e benchmarks indicate it has 8GB of RAM. That’s not a surprise, as Apple Intelligence requires at least 8GB of RAM to run, and the rest of the iPhone 16 series have the same amount. It’s available with 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage options.

While the iPhone 16e may be the baby of the 16 family, it does come with an Apple-first piece of hardware. The C1 modem inside the handset is the first cellular modem designed by Apple, and apparently it’s the most efficient modem to ever feature in an iPhone. Let’s hope the Cupertino, California based firm has done its homework to ensure reliable 5G cellular connectivity for users then.

Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 16e runs iOS 18, the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system. And with the software and updated chipset, the 16e joins the rest of the iPhone 16 family by offering Apple Intelligence support. This is Apple’s AI, a direct rival to Google Gemini.

A press image of the Apple iPhone 16e.

iPhone 16e cameras

The iPhone 16e features a single rear camera, but don’t let that put you off as it’s a ‘2-in-1 camera system’. It comprises a 48MP Fusion sensor which can enable a 12MP 2x Telephoto camera along with the ability to shoot 48MP and 24MP super-high-resolution photos. As well as the 2x optical zoom, the 16e supports a 10x digital zoom to get you closer to your subject.

While the camera on the back on the 16e matches the main sensor on the iPhone 16, the Fusion camera upgrade on iPhone 16e is missing a few tricks.

On the front you get a 12MP TrueDepth camera which is used for FaceID unlocking, Animoji and Memoji, FaceTime and of course, selfies.

iPhone 16e battery life

Apple says the iPhone 16e has the best battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone ever, claiming it can last up to six hours longer than the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12.

You can charge the iPhone 16e via USB-C, plus there’s support for wireless charging. There’s fast wired charging with the ability to replenish 50% of the battery in as little as 30 minutes. You’ll need to use a 20W or higher charger to achieve the fastest recharge speeds – and one isn’t included in the box. You do get a 1M USB-C charging cable included though.

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Christine Romero-Chan
Christine Romero-Chan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Christine Romero-Chan has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade. She graduated from California…
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