Apple launched the iPhone 16e, the newest member of the iPhone 16 family, today. It is the iPhone SE 4 with a new name which means that Apple has basically killed the “special edition” branding it has used for its budget iPhones since 2016. What this also means is that the iPhone SE 3 from 2022 will go down in history as the last iPhone SE. With the iPhone 16e, Apple is starting fresh though, it still has all the underpinnings of the SE, majorly, affordability. In India, the iPhone 16e starts at Rs 59,900 for a version with 128GB storage. The top-end variant with 512GB storage will set you back by Rs 89,900.
The iPhone 16e has been a long time coming. Naturally, it is bringing a major redesign to the SE platform and adding a bunch of “next-generation” technology including Apple Intelligence to Cupertino’s most budget-friendly iPhone. Since the last SE was based on the iPhone 8, it was the only iPhone in Apple’s portfolio to have “yesteryear” technology including a Home Button with Touch ID and Lightning port. That port is the reason why Apple was forced to take it off the shelves in the European Union where all devices are now mandated to have a USB Type-C port. With the iPhone 16e, the SE can once again enter the EU, since it has USB C, like all current Apple products.
iPhone 16e: Full India price, pre-order, and sale date
The iPhone 16e is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB memory configurations for Rs 59,900, Rs 69,900 and Rs 89,900, respectively. Pre-orders kick-off starting February 21, with general availability pegged for February 28.
| iPhone 16e Memory/Price |
| 128GB: Rs 59,900 |
| 256GB: Rs 69,900 |
| 512GB: Rs 89,900 |
iPhone 16e: Specs and features of new iPhone SE 2025
The TL;DR (too long; didn’t read) version to describe it would be that the iPhone 16e has a body like the iPhone 14 and draws power from the same processor that drives the latest iPhone 16 series, aka A18. Apple Intelligence in its current avatar requires devices to have at least 8GB of RAM and so, the iPhone 16e is getting it, too, which is a big bump from the iPhone SE 3’s puny 3GB. The 64GB storage has also been retired and so, base storage now starts at 128GB. It goes up to 512GB.
The iPhone 16e runs iOS 18.3 right out of the gate and should be supported for years to come. The iPhone SE 3, which launched with iOS 13 already runs iOS 18.3, same software version as the iPhone 16, though with some caveats that creep in because of how the phone is designed.
| Specs | iPhone 16e |
| Display | 6.1-inch 60Hz OLED |
| Biometrics | Face ID |
| Processor | Apple A18 |
| Memory | 8GB RAM 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Apple Intelligence | Supported |
| Software | iOS 18.3 |
| Cameras | 48MP f/1.6, OIS (rear) 12MP f/1.9 (front) |
| Battery, Charging | 20W fast wired Qi wireless |
| Connectivity | USB Type-C Bluetooth 5.3 Wi-Fi 6 5G (C1 Apple modem) |
Like the iPhone 14, the iPhone 16e also has a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 1.5K resolution (800 nits of peak brightness), which is a big step up over the third-generation SE’s 4.7-inch 720p LCD. The refresh rate stays put at 60Hz, which is a bummer, but on expected lines. The wide notch from the iPhone 14 returns, so does Face ID biometrics. The basic construction remains untouched, too, which is to say that you get a glass and metal chassis with IP68 dust and water resistance. The new iPhone 16e comes in a choice of black and white with matte finish.
The only big difference is that the 16e has only one camera on the back. It has a 48-megapixel sensor. The front camera is 12MP.
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