Apple has just taken the wraps off the iPhone 16E, the company’s new entry-level iPhone that uses the same design as the iPhone 14 except for a new USB-C charging port and a 48MP 2-in-1 rear camera system. Under the hood, the iPhone 16E uses the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16 series, but it’s the first iPhone to ship with Apple’s new C1 cellular modem.
“iPhone 16e packs in the features our users love about the iPhone 16 lineup, including breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, and Apple Intelligence,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing. “We’re so excited for iPhone 16e to complete the lineup as a powerful, more affordable option to bring the iPhone experience to even more people.”
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Just like the iPhone 14, the iPhone 16E comes with a 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch hiding the Face ID sensor and front-facing camera instead of Apple’s more subtle Dynamic Island system. There’s also a new customizable Action button on the side, but no Camera Control button like on the iPhone 16 series. The iPhone 16E also uses USB-C for charging, which is now mandatory for all phones sold in the EU.
The “Fusion” camera on the iPhone 16E can take high-resolution 24MP and 48 MP photos, and it supports the new AI-powered Visual Intelligence feature. It also comes with an integrated 2x Telephoto sensor. “Users have the equivalent of two cameras in one, and can zoom in with optical quality to get closer to the subject and easily frame their shot,” Apple explained today. As for the iPhone 16E’s front-facing camera, it supports Portrait mode with Depth Control, but not the Focus feature found on the iPhone 14.
Thanks to its new C1 modem, Apple promises up to 26 hours of video playback on the iPhone 16E, compared to 22 hours on the iPhone 16 and 20 hours on the iPhone 14. “C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity,” the company said today. “Apple silicon — including C1 — the all-new internal design, and the advanced power management of iOS 18 all contribute to extraordinary battery life.”
A quick note about wireless charging support: The iPhone 16E supports Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W, but it’s not compatible with MagSafe cases, wallets, wireless chargers, and more. The more expensive iPhone 16 series supports wireless charging up to 25W with these MagSafe accessories.
The iPhone 16E will be available in matte black and white finishes, and pre-orders will open on Friday, February 21. Prices will start at $599 for the 128GB model, with the 256GB and 512GB priced at $699 and $899, respectively. That’s quite a price hike compared to the $429 3rd-gen iPhone SE (which Apple has now discontinued), but this is also a substantial upgrade from a design and performance standpoint. The iPhone 16E will start shipping on February 28th, let us know in the comments if you think it could become a new volume seller for Apple.
