On Wednesday morning, Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e, now the most budget-friendly model in its current lineup. This new release replaces the 2022 iPhone SE as the "affordable" option, though it represents a shift from the substantial discounts that characterized the older SE line. The iPhone 16e starts at $599, narrowing the price difference with the $799 iPhone 16 released last fall. Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e begin on Friday, Feb. 21, with availability starting the following week on Friday, Feb. 28.

The iPhone 16e is also the first device to feature Apple's C1 cellular modem. Apple has seen significant success with its in-house chips, such as the M1 and subsequent models in its computers and the A-series chips in its mobile devices. The cellular modem is a crucial, yet often overlooked, component of phones. If Apple hasn't perfected the C1, it could lead to connectivity issues. Hopefully, Apple has learned from the "Antennagate" incident, when the iPhone 4 faced cell signal problems due to the design and placement of its antennas, and has ensured the iPhone 16e's connectivity is robust.

iPhone 16e

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From the front, the iPhone 16e closely resembles the iPhone 14. It shares the same specifications, featuring a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 2532x1170 resolution and a peak brightness of 1,200 nits. While not as sharp or bright as the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16e includes the Action button and a USB-C port, though it lacks the Camera Control feature.

The back of the iPhone 16e sets it apart from other models, sporting a single 48MP camera, similar to the iPhone SE. This camera shares many features with the main camera of the current iPhone 16, but lacks certain advanced elements like sensor-shift stabilization, the latest Photographic styles, and the ability to adjust focus in portrait mode. The front-facing camera, however, is identical to that of the iPhone 16, bringing Face ID to the iPhone 16e.

The phone's construction includes an aluminum frame, a glass back, and Apple's Ceramic Shield on the front. Apple claims this Ceramic Shield is "tougher than any smartphone glass," yet it's important to note that a newer version of Ceramic Shield is touted as "two times tougher than any smartphone glass." This raises questions about the durability of the older Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 16e, especially considering the wear and tear observed during the iPhone 16 review.

The iPhone 16e's internal components reflect Apple's product stratification strategy. While the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models feature the A18 Pro chip with enhanced speeds and more GPU cores, the iPhone 16e uses an "A18" chip. Although it has the same number of CPU cores as the iPhone 16, it only comes with a 4-core GPU, compared to the iPhone 16's 5-core GPU. This suggests a performance step down from the iPhone 16, though the inclusion of the Neural Engine ensures access to Apple Intelligence features.

The iPhone 16e, priced at $599, represents a compromise to achieve a lower cost than other models in Apple's lineup. While not as heavily discounted as the earlier iPhone SE models, which launched at $429 with the same chip as the then $799 iPhone 13, the iPhone 16e is based on a more recent design, albeit with minor annual updates since 2018.

The actual performance of the iPhone 16e remains to be seen. With compelling iPhone alternatives around $600 in the Android market, such as the OnePlus 13R, Apple may face challenges attracting buyers who are not already part of the Apple ecosystem.