Apple's Cheapest iPhone Now Starts at $599

Ahead of the launch of the iPhone 16e, rumors suggested that Apple would target a price point at or below $500 to stay within the range of prior low-cost iPhone options and to encourage sales, but Apple opted for a higher starting cost.

iphone 16e
The ‌iPhone 16e‌ is priced starting at $599 for 128GB of storage, and it is now Apple's cheapest ‌iPhone‌ option, even in countries like India where more affordable iPhones often sell well.

The now-discontinued ‌iPhone‌ SE started at $429, so it has become $170 more expensive to get an entry-level ‌iPhone‌.

Apple raised the price of the ‌iPhone 16e‌ because it has a modern design, more expensive A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, an Action Button, Face ID, and a higher starting storage. The increase in cost will improve Apple's average ‌iPhone‌ selling price, but it could put the device out of range of some customers.

Here is Apple's new pricing lineup, with the ‌iPhone 16e‌ included:

  • ‌iPhone 16e‌ - Starting at $599
  • ‌iPhone‌ 15 - Starting at $699
  • ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus - Starting at $799
  • iPhone 16 - Starting at $799
  • ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus - Starting at $899
  • ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro - Starting at $999
  • ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max - Starting at $1,199

The ‌iPhone 16e‌ is available for pre-order on Friday, with a launch to follow on February 28.

Related Roundup: iPhone 16e
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 16e (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

CaféPicasso Avatar
8 months ago
"e" for embarrassing
I mean 599,00.. really?
I'm sorry for anyone who buys this
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
8 months ago
Cheap is the right word

[S]$100[/S] $170 price hike from the SE and no MagSafe on a brand new model in 2025...

A new low for Tim

Also, compared to the SE3, it's heavier, taller, wider and thicker


(edited price hike # - thank you @Electroni )
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Electroni Avatar
8 months ago

Cheap is the right word

$100 price hike from the SE and no MagSafe on a brand new model in 2025...

A new low for Tim

Also, compared to the SE3, it's heavier, taller, wider and thicker
Actually, it’s a $170 over the previous base “budget” model. That’s a 40% increase. Ridiculous doesn’t begin to describe it.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iPay Avatar
8 months ago

Apple raised the price of the iPhone 16e because it has a modern design, more expensive A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, an Action Button, Face ID, and a higher starting storage.
Or just because $$$
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Veinticinco Avatar
8 months ago
Calling it now. This iPhone 16e will go the same way as the iPhone 5c.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
d5aqoëp Avatar
8 months ago
This is an extremely poor choice compared to regular 16 which has "far superior" Qualcomm modem and just better all-round specs. The display is also junk tier slow-motion 60hz. Here in India, the regular 16 is many times offered for same price as 16E with various discounts. For me this is a "product launch pricing" fail !
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)