iPhone 16e kills off the SE series, but sets the beginning of Apple’s C1 cellular modem that optimizes the phone’s flagship-level performance.
The waiting game is over for fans of Apple’s midrange smartphone, as the tech giant has finally unveiled the latest generation of its cheapest iPhone. And the predictions, rumors, and speculations are true—it has the potential of being Apple’s best budget phone to date.
The Cupertino-based company on Thursday announced the new iPhone in an online event that was expected to launch the iPhone SE 4. What turned out instead was an introduction of the iPhone 16e—“the most affordable member” of the iPhone 16 family, says Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook.
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iPhone 16e isn’t exactly a follow-up to the company’s lower-cost “Special Edition” phones, or iPhone SE, but it completely replaces it. The launch also coincides with Apple’s decision to discontinue the iPhone 14 due to the European Union’s regulations requiring all smartphones to use a single charging port (USB-C).
Even before it was unveiled, 16e was presumed to be the iPhone to revolutionize Apple’s budget-friendly lineup. It kills off the SE series, but, as rumored, it sets the beginning of Apple’s use of its own cellular modem, called “C1.” The new device is also powered by the company’s latest A18 processor and is boosted by a “breakthrough battery life” that is longer than older iPhone models.
If you’re thinking of upgrading to the iPhone 16e, read on to know why the budget phone might just be what you need for a big tech flex—minus the hefty price tag—this year.
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1. Mid-ranger with flagship-level performance
iPhone 16e may be Apple’s cheapest iPhone, but it promises a flagship-level performance, proving that less can be more. The phone is powered by Apple’s latest A18 processor, which is also built in the standard iPhone 16. The 4-core GPU “runs 40 percent faster than the iPhone SE 3 and 80 percent faster than the iPhone 11,” says Apple’s vice president for iPhone Product Marketing, Kaiann Drance.
The powerful chipset provides fast speed across the phone’s apps, even when you’re using Clean Up to remove photobombers on your phone, as well as a “stunning graphics performance” when you’re playing graphic-intensive AAA mobile games.
What’s more, iPhone 16e’s A18 silicone equips the device for Apple Intelligence, the company’s personal artificial intelligence system. Apple Intelligence is integrated into many of the phone’s apps, including Photos and E-mail. It lets you find photos and create emojis by simply typing a few words into the Photos’ search bar, as well as create personalized images with the use of the Image Playground feature.
When you’re on E-mail, Apple Intelligence provides you with a summary of long threads and enables you to respond to messages using Smart Reply. It also helps you refine your text using Writing Tools backed by ChatGPT.
2. The beginning of Apple’s in-house iPhone modem
Apple’s newest iPhone gets a huge boost not only through its speedy A18 silicone, but also from C1—the company’s first custom-designed modem introduced in the iPhone 16e. Drance said this system of modem chips “provide fast and reliable 5G connectivity, and it’s the most efficient modem ever in an iPhone.”
Prior to C1’s launch, Apple was sourcing modems from Qualcomm which is the world’s biggest supplier of mobile phone chipsets, according to Reuters. With this approach, Apple aims to reduce its dependence on Qualcomm and gain more control over its hardware design.
The tech giant has been mum about the development of C1 until now, but its launch comes six years after it bought majority of Intel’s smartphone modem business for $1 billion in 2019. Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, recently told Reuters that they tested the chip with 180 carriers in 55 countries to ensure that it works wherever Apple ships its iPhones.
Today, Apple touts C1 as the most power-efficient modem in an iPhone. The company is confident that it can use the advanced system for the rest of its phones in the years to come. “We build a platform for generations,” Srouji told Reuters. “C1 is the start, and we’re going to keep improving that technology each generation, so that it becomes a platform for us that will be used to truly differentiate this technology for our products.”
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3. Hello longer battery life, farewell Lightning
Beefing up the iPhone 16e’s flagship-level performance is its battery life, which Apple describes as a “breakthrough” in the history of iPhone. Because of what Apple claims as unparalleled power efficiency in the C1, the iPhone 16e gets an “unprecedented level of battery life for a 6.1-inch iPhone,” says Drance. The phone is capable of 26 hours of video playback and can run up to 12 hours longer compared to older iPhones.
iPhone 16e charges with the universal standard USB-C cord, which officially marks the end of Apple’s propriety Lightning port and connector. Wireless charging is still present on the iPhone 16e, although The Verge and other tech publications have noticed that there is no mention of whether the 16e is built with magnetic connection technology. From the looks of it, you can still wirelessly charge your phone, but don’t expect your magnetic accessories to attach to the 16e in a snap.
4. Apple’s smallest phone has grown up
System upgrades aside, you’d easily know the difference in the iPhone 16e from the latest generation of iPhone SE (iPhone SE 3) with its body. Apple’s budget phone has clearly grown up, as it now sports a 6.1-inch display, which is quite a huge leap from iPhone SE 3’s 4.7-inch screen.
The 16e’s Super Retina XDR display comes with OLED technology and a 60 Hz refresh rate. On the outside, it has a notch that houses the front camera, top speaker, and Face ID sensor. Unlike Apple’s previous budget phones, the iPhone 16e is no longer built with the Home button, which was still present on the iPhone SE 3.
The 16e’s screen is protected by Ceramic Shield, which Drance said is “tougher than any smartphone glass,” providing the phone with “up to four times better drop performance than older iPhones.” Adding to its durability is the phone’s enclosure, which is made from aerospace-grade aluminum.
This exceptionally strong frame also houses a customizable Action Button on the left side of the phone, which replaces the phone’s ring/silent switch. The new button can still be used to silence your phone, but it also comes with a slew of other features, including turning on the flashlight, opening the camera, or using the Visual Intelligence feature to store and search data on your phone by simply taking a picture of an object.
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5. Gorgeous photos with the powerful 2-in-1 camera
Speaking of camera, Apple is changing the way users take photos on its mid-range phones, with the iPhone 16e’s 2-in-1 camera system that “combines the capabilities of two cameras in one.” The new device has a 48MP Fusion camera built with a 2x Telephoto lens that both “provide up to four times the resolution of older iPhones,” says Apple’s director of iPhone Product Design, Lucy Browning.
As for videos, the iPhone 16e records in 4K with Dolby Vision up to 60fps, as well as Spatial Audio for immersive listening, from AirPods to a surround sound system, and wind noise reduction that automatically reduces unwanted noise. Videos can meanwhile be edited using the Audio Mix features to make it sound like it was recorded inside a professional studio.
On the front, the iPhone 16e sports a 24MP selfie camera that is the same with all iPhone 16 models. Its TrueDepth technology, autofocus feature, and Depth Control enables sharper close-ups and beautiful group selfies.
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The iPhone 16e is available in the following storage options: 128GB (P39,990), 256GB (P46,990), and 512GB (P58,990). Pre-orders will begin on Feb. 21 in the US before it hits shelves on Feb. 28. Meanwhile, those thinking of buying the phone in the Philippines might have to wait a little longer and stay tuned to Apple’s website as it has yet to announce the phone’s availability in the country.
