The home button is officially a thing of the past. Apple has unveiled the iPhone 16e, ditching the classic Touch ID interface for a Face ID-enabled notch and a modern design. This new model, starting at $599, also boasts the powerful A18 chip and support for Apple Intelligence.
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The 16e inherits the design language of the 2022 iPhone 14, incorporating the notch for Face ID and front-facing cameras. Its 6.06-inch OLED display is nearly identical in size to the standard 6.12-inch iPhone 16, signalling a potential shift away from significantly smaller iPhone models, at least until the rumoured iPhone 17 Air emerges. The 16e is only fractionally smaller than the iPhone 16.
While the 16e includes the customizable Action Button, it omits the new Camera Control feature found in the 16 series. It does, however, adopt the USB-C port, a requirement for EU sales. Notably absent are MagSafe accessories and fast wireless charging; the 16E supports only Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W.
Internally, the A18 chip, shared with the iPhone 16, empowers the 16e to support Apple Intelligence features like notification summaries. This makes the 16e one of the most AI-capable iPhones currently available. With Apple previously confirming 8GB of RAM as the minimum for Apple Intelligence, it’s likely the 16e also includes at least that much memory. The base storage has been doubled to 128GB, eliminating the 64GB option.
The 16e features a single 48-megapixel rear camera, representing the most significant hardware difference compared to other iPhones.
However, it does retain wireless charging and a water-resistant IP rating.
The 16E also marks a milestone as the first iPhone to incorporate an Apple-designed modem, signalling the company’s move away from Qualcomm-supplied components. The performance of this new modem remains to be seen, with implications for future iPhone connectivity.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e begin Friday, with shipping starting on February 28th. The $599 starting price represents a substantial increase from the $429 launch price of the 2022 iPhone SE. However, this price jump reflects the significant upgrades in storage, design, and features.
