February 22, 2025, 9:42 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Apple has unveiled the iPhone 16e, marking a complete relaunch of its iPhone SE series. But what does the comparatively inexpensive iPhone have to offer?
Three years ago, Apple presented the 3rd generation iPhone SE. Since then, fans have been waiting for a successor, which has now been unveiled in the form of the iPhone 16e. This substantiates the speculation that Apple is intent on overhauling its more affordable line of products. It’s not just the name that’s new but also the concept and design. TECHBOOK provides an overview.
iPhone 16e Comes with New and Old Design Elements
One of the most important innovations is immediately apparent at first glance. This is because the iPhone 16e comes without the home button that was previously installed in the SE models. Since 2017, Apple has eliminated the front button on its standard smartphone models. Apple is transferring the functions of the button to another location, and, in terms of design, the omission allows for a larger display.
This measures 6.1 inches but has a well-known cut-out at the top edge: the notch. This means that the iPhone 16e does not come with the Dynamic Island introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro. Compared to its predecessor, the 16e makes a leap, but compared to the rest of the market, the smartphone is still quite compact and thus remains true to the SE concept. This is also illustrated by the dimensions of 71.5 mm x 146.7 mm x 7.8 mm and a weight of 167 grams.
The name change from SE, which stands for Special Edition, to the appendix e, which in turn abbreviates Economy, links the new device more closely to the main series. As usual, Apple refreshed this range in the fall when the company presented the iPhone 16 along with the 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 17 will then follow in the fall of 2025 – and perhaps we will now also get an e-model every year.
What Performance Does the New iPhone Offer?
The affiliation with its big brother can also be seen inside the iPhone 16e. It actually uses the relatively new A18 chip from the current models. The reason for this is undoubtedly the company’s AI offensive. To be able to use Apple’s in-house AI — Apple Intelligence — a more powerful chip is required.
However, the 16e comes with one less graphics core. This reduction in graphics cores may be most evident during complex tasks, such as gaming. Otherwise, however, the difference should not be particularly noticeable.
However, one innovation in terms of performance is particularly noteworthy. For the first time, the iPhone 16e comes with Apple’s own mobile modem, which also enables 5G. This allows Apple to directly assess the modem’s readiness for integration into the upcoming iPhone 17 series. However, the 16e comes without MagSafe, which can be retrofitted with an appropriate case.
The company has not yet revealed the exact battery capacity. The 16e is expected to outlast the iPhone 11 by a substantial six hours. Apple promises a total of 26 hours of video playback (21 with streamed content), which would be enormous in any case, especially compared to the iPhone SE 3. Apple even claims a value of up to 90 hours for audio playback.
The Camera of the iPhone 16e
When it comes to the camera, the iPhone 16e remains true to the SE series. Only one lens is installed on the back; otherwise, there are at least two on the iPhone 16 models. This one offers 48 MP and a 2x zoom. The camera also enables 12 MP telephoto with optical image stabilization and panoramic images with up to 63 MP.
Videos are possible in 4K and 24 fps. Normal recordings even reach up to 60 fps. The front camera, on the other hand, offers 12 MP and a powerful autofocus. As with the other 16 models, the iPhone 16e also features the new action button. This replaces the mute switch and can be assigned individually.
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Price and Availability
The iPhone 16e comes directly with USB-C. Incidentally, the connection is probably another reason for the current launch. After all, all SE models still have Lightning, which is not EU-compliant. The new smartphone is available in two classic colors: black and white. There are also three storage variants: 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB.
The price of the iPhone 16e is also based on these variables. The 128 GB version costs 699 euros, the 256 GB version 829 euros, while the 512 GB model costs 1079 euros. This is a significant jump compared to the previous SE models. The 3rd generation started at 519 euros back then; the most expensive model was 689 euros and, therefore, still below the entry-level price of the 16e.
Compared to the rest of the iPhone 16 generation, however, the e-model remains a cheaper alternative. Pricing for the base model begins at 950 euros. Pre-orders start on February 21, and the iPhone 16e will be available in stores starting on February 28.