iPhone 16e Launches Today With These New Features

Apple launched its new iPhone 16e in stores today. The new model replaces the entry-level iPhone SE and represents the latest addition to Apple's flagship iPhone 16 lineup, but don't let its more affordable $599 starting price fool you into thinking it lacks premium features.

iphone 16e in hand
The iPhone 16e inherits a host of features and enhancements from the existing iPhone 16 series. Here's a rundown of the biggest new features you get with the cheaper model:

iPhone 16e: What You Get

Display and Design

The most striking change is the shift to a 6.1-inch OLED display with Face ID, abandoning the Touch ID Home button that characterized the previous entry-level iPhone SE models. This transition represents the end of Touch ID across Apple's entire iPhone lineup, and the use of OLED displays across Apple's entire smartphone lineup. Otherwise, the iPhone 16e largely adopts the design signature of the iPhone 14, complete with a display notch.

Performance and Battery

At the heart of the iPhone 16e is Apple's A18 chip, though with a slightly different configuration than its flagship siblings. While it shares the same 6-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine, the iPhone 16e features a binned 4-core GPU instead of the 5-core variant found in the standard iPhone 16 models. However, most users are unlikely to notice any appreciable difference in general performance.

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the iPhone 16e is Apple's first in-house modem design, the C1. This new chip delivers impressive power efficiency, enabling the device to achieve up to 26 hours of video playback – four hours more than the standard iPhone 16 model.

Camera System

The camera system has also received attention, with a single 48-megapixel Fusion camera that provides what Apple calls "optical-quality" 2x zoom capabilities. It has no Telephoto lens, so there are no other zoom options, and there is no Ultra Wide camera for wide-angle shots and macro images. Since there's just one lens, there's also no option for spatial image and video capture.

The iPhone 16e provides the same True Tone flash, Photonic Engine, Deep Fusion, and Smart HDR 5 options, but it does not support next-generation portraits with Focus Control or the latest Photographic Styles. Meanwhile, the front FaceTime camera features a 12-megapixel sensor with autofocus support, and offers an identical feature set with the exception of support for Cinematic mode, Photographic Styles, and Depth Control for Portrait shots.

Features and Connectivity

The iPhone 16e adopts the modern physical changes that are found on Apple's phones like an Action button, USB-C connectivity, and IP68 water resistance. However, it lacks some premium features found on other iPhone 16 models, including MagSafe charging, Wi-Fi 7, Dynamic Island, and the new Camera Control button.

iPhone 16e also supports Apple's satellite features. When outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, the iPhone 16e supports Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via satellite. Availability of the features varies by country.

Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence is a suite of AI-powered features designed to enhance user experience across Apple's ecosystem. The iPhone 16e joins the iPhone 15 Pro models and all other iPhone 16 models in supporting Apple Intelligence, thanks to its 8GB of RAM. AI features include Writing Tools, the Image Playground app, which allows users to generate images using AI, and Genmoji, which enables the creation of personalized emojis from text descriptions or photos.

Siri has been overhauled to provide more natural and context-aware interactions, including the ability to process complex queries by integrating with ChatGPT. In the Mail app, Priority Messages highlight urgent emails with AI-generated summaries, and the Photos app offers features like custom memory movies and enhanced search capabilities. The iPhone 16e also supports Visual Intelligence, which helps you get more details about places and objects around you. The feature can be assigned to the Action button or invoked via Control Center.

Availability and Options

Orders for the iPhone 16e are now open on Apple's online store and the Apple Store app, with availability in 59 countries and regions. The device comes in white or black color options, with storage configurations of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB priced at $599, $699, and $899, respectively.

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

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Capacity Leaked

Thursday July 3, 2025 5:40 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature the biggest ever battery in an iPhone, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post, the leaker listed the battery capacities of the iPhone 11 Pro Max through to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and added that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a battery capacity of 5,000mAh: iPhone 11 Pro Max: 3,969mAh iPhone 12 Pro Max: 3,687mAh...
airpods pro 2

AirPods Pro 3 to Help Maintain Apple's Place in Earbud Market Amid Increasing Low-Cost Competition

Thursday July 3, 2025 7:25 am PDT by
Apple's position as the dominant force in the global true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud market is expected to continue through 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. The forecast outlines a 3% year-over-year increase in global TWS unit shipments for 2025, signaling a transition from rapid growth to a more mature phase for the category. While Apple is set to remain the leading brand by...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's Upcoming Macs Listed in New Report

Thursday July 3, 2025 9:09 am PDT by
AppleInsider's Marko Zivkovic today shared a list of alleged identifiers for future Mac models, which should roll out over the next year or so. The report does not reveal anything too surprising, but it does serve as further evidence that Apple is seemingly working on new models of every Mac, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. Apple is...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Magsafe

iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo

Wednesday July 2, 2025 8:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to have a slightly different MagSafe magnet layout compared to existing iPhone models, and a leaked photo has offered a closer look at the supposed new design. The leaker Majin Bu today shared a photo of alleged MagSafe magnet arrays for third-party iPhone 17 Pro cases. On existing iPhone models with MagSafe, the magnets form a...