Everything You Need to Know About the iPhone 16e

Apple just stopped making the iPhone SE and replaced it with a bigger and better model that has newer features. The iPhone 16e does away with the old design and now has a large OLED screen, a better camera, and Face ID. This is the biggest upgrade Apple has made to its budget phones so far. You can preorder it on Feb. 21, and it comes out on Feb. 28.

The iPhone 16e, which was announced on Feb. 19, isn’t just a makeover. It also has Apple’s first 5G modem, called the C1, which helps save battery and gives Apple more control over how it connects to networks. The Lightning port is gone and has been replaced with USB-C, and there’s now an Action Button for shortcuts. The base storage is twice as big as before, and Apple Intelligence brings AI tools like Genmoji, Image Wand, and Writing Tools.

This is a big improvement over the third-gen iPhone SE, but there are a few things missing. The iPhone 16e doesn’t support nano-SIM cards, can’t play ProRes videos, and doesn’t have DC-HSDPA for 3G (but 3G networks are going away anyway). Unlike the other iPhone 16 models, it doesn’t have mmWave 5G or Dynamic Island, but that’s not unexpected as it is cheaper.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone SE (2022)

Feature	iPhone 16e	iPhone SE (2022)
Display	6.1-inch OLED	4.7-inch LCD
Processor	A18 chip	A15 chip
Unlocking	Face ID	Touch ID
Charging Port	USB-C	Lightning
Extra Button	Action Button	None
Battery Life	Longer with C1 modem	Standard
Storage	128GB / 256GB / 512GB	64GB / 128GB / 256GB
Rear Camera	48MP	12MP
Front Camera	12MP with Night mode	7MP
AI Features	Apple Intelligence	None

via APPLE

Note: Apple Intelligence is Apple’s new AI system that helps with writing, image editing, and personalization. It’s expected to improve over time, but it will only be available on select iPhones, including the iPhone 16e.

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What’s New in the iPhone 16e?

Feature	iPhone 16e Upgrade
Bigger Screen	6.1-inch OLED (up from LCD)
Better Camera	48MP main sensor with Night mode
Faster Chip	A18 chip for better performance
USB-C Charging	No more Lightning cable
AI Features	Genmoji, Image Wand, Writing Tools
Action Button	Quick shortcuts like on iPhone 15 Pro
Battery Efficiency	C1 modem helps save battery

The new C1 modem is Apple’s first in-house 5G modem, and it plays a big role in making the iPhone 16e more power-efficient. By managing network connections more effectively, it reduces power consumption, giving the phone longer battery life compared to older models. This means less time spent charging and more time using your phone without worrying about running out of battery.

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What’s Missing?

Feature	What’s Missing in iPhone 16e?
SIM Support	No nano-SIM, eSIM only
Video Features	No ProRes video playback
5G Connectivity	No mmWave 5G, only sub-6GHz
Display Cutout	Still has a notch, no Dynamic Island
3G Support	No DC-HSDPA (but 3G is fading anyway)

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How Much Does It Cost?

The iPhone 16e is not quite as cheap as the third-generation iPhone SE when it was released. While the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) started at $429, the iPhone 16e starts at $599. Take into account inflation, and the iPhone 16e is still over $100 more. Compared to the last iPhone SE, the highest-storage option is 55% more expensive. This is partly because of having twice as much storage since the iPhone SE maxed out at 256 GB.

• $599 for 128 GB

• $699 for 256 GB

• $899 for 512 GB

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Should You Buy It?

If you’re using an older iPhone SE or any iPhone with a home button, this is a huge upgrade. The bigger OLED screen, Face ID, and better camera make it feel like a modern iPhone without the high price tag. But if you really want mmWave 5G, ProRes video, or Dynamic Island, you might want to look at the standard iPhone 16 instead.