Apple has launched the iPhone 16e, the newest and most affordable member of the iPhone 16 family. The 16e is a spiritual successor to the iPhone SE 3 and while Apple may have discontinued the special edition branding, it lives through under a new name and possibly fresh vigour. Not only does it simplify the expansive iPhone lineup, it is also a positive sign for a more regular—yearly—update cycle, unlike the SE which had a tumultuous roadmap.
The iPhone 16e is the special edition iPhone from Apple in 2025 that puts modern technology like the latest Apple silicon (including its first ever 5G modem) and support for advanced AI features inside a relatively dated design, in this case, the iPhone 14. The idea of all the mishmash is to come out with an iPhone that is new but more affordable than everything else like it.
Here’s a quick 10-point rundown on everything you need to know about the iPhone 16e, the most affordable Apple iPhone in 2025:
- Design: The iPhone 16e design is a throwback to the (now discontinued) iPhone 14 from 2022. It features “toughened” glass on the back with a matte finish and Ceramic Shield front cover for protection. The outer frame is made of metal. The chassis is IP68 rated. Colour options are two: black and white.
- Display: The iPhone 16e has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR, in other words “OLED” screen with a 1.5K resolution and up to 800 nits of peak brightness (1200 nits for HDR). The refresh rate is capped at 60Hz. The phone features an iPhone 14-style notch complete with a TrueDepth camera system that enables Face ID.
- Processor: The iPhone is powered by the new Apple A18 chip from the iPhone 16 with a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core NPU.
- RAM: The iPhone 16e has 8GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence features.
- Storage: The iPhone 16e comes in a choice of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.
- Camera: The iPhone 16e has a single camera on the back with a 48-megapixel sensor behind an f/1.6 lens with optical image stabilisation. Apple is marketing it as a 2–in-1 camera since it has put a 2x telephoto mode and promising “optical” quality. Basically it will make use of the high-resolution sensor to give you close crops while birdwatching. This camera supports Night Mode and can also record 4K with Dolby Vision up to 60 fps and videos with Spatial Audio. The front camera is a 12-megapixel.
- Modem: The iPhone 16e marks the global debut of Apple’s first in-house 5G cellular modem which is called C1. It has supposedly taken years of development but makes only a fleeting mention in the company’s announcement, suggesting Apple isn’t ready to play up the technology just yet. All we know is that it is the most power-efficient modem available on any iPhone providing “fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity.” Only reports mention lack of Millimetre wave (mmWave) 5G on the iPhone 16e, but this is something that will be confirmed only once Apple starts seeding these devices for testing.
- Battery, charging: Apple is committing to “extraordinary” battery life with the iPhone 16e capable of lasting up to six hours longer than iPhone 11 and up to 12 hours longer than all generations of iPhone SE. Fast charging is available, so is wireless though this is limited to only Q1 with Apple missing out on MagSafe.
- Connectivity: The iPhone 16e supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and charges over USB Type-C.
- Price, availability: The iPhone 16e is priced at Rs 59,900 for 128GB, Rs 69,900 for 256GB and Rs 89,900 for 512GB, respectively. It will be available in stores and online starting February 28 with pre-orders kicking off on February 21.
Follow FE Tech Bytes on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook
