On Wednesday morning, Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e, now the most budget-friendly model in its current lineup. This new entry replaces the aging 2022 iPhone SE as the "affordable" choice, though it represents a departure from the deep discounts the SE series was known for. Priced at $599, the iPhone 16e narrows the price gap with the $799 iPhone 16, which was released last fall. Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e begin on Friday, Feb. 21, with the official release following on Friday, Feb. 28.

The iPhone 16e is the first to feature Apple’s C1 cellular modem. Apple has enjoyed success with its in-house chips, like the M1 and subsequent models in its computers and the A-series chips in its mobile devices. The cellular modem, often overlooked, is crucial for phone functionality. Should the C1 modem underperform, users might encounter connectivity issues. Apple's past experience with the "Antennagate" scandal—where the iPhone 4 had cell signal problems due to antenna design—hopefully informs their approach to ensure the iPhone 16e's connectivity is robust.

iPhone 16e

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From the front, the iPhone 16e is nearly indistinguishable from the iPhone 14, boasting a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 2532x1170 resolution and a peak brightness of 1,200 nits. Although not as sharp or bright as the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16e includes the Action button and a USB-C port but lacks the Camera Control feature.

The back of the iPhone 16e sets it apart with its single 48MP camera, reminiscent of the iPhone SE's design. While this camera shares many traits with the iPhone 16’s main camera, some advanced features, such as sensor-shift stabilization, the latest Photographic styles, and adjustable focus in portrait mode, are reserved for the higher-end model. The front-facing camera remains consistent across models, 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. Although Apple claims this Ceramic Shield is "tougher than any smartphone glass," it's worth noting that newer versions of Ceramic Shield claim to be "two times tougher." This raises questions about the durability of the older Ceramic Shield used in the iPhone 16e, especially considering the wear observed on the iPhone 16 during testing.

Internally, the iPhone 16e showcases product differentiation. While the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models feature the A18 and A18 Pro chips respectively, the iPhone 16e uses an A18 chip but with a 4-core GPU instead of 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 compatibility with Apple Intelligence features.

To achieve its lower price point of $599, the iPhone 16e makes some compromises. While it doesn't seem overly compromised, it doesn't offer the same level of discount as earlier iPhone SE models. The 2022 iPhone SE, for instance, launched at $429 with the same chip as the then $799 iPhone 13, despite its dated design. The iPhone 16e, based on a more recent design with minor annual updates since 2018, may struggle to attract buyers outside the Apple ecosystem, especially with strong Android competitors like the OnePlus 13R priced around $600.