Apple has officially released the long-awaited refresh of its affordable iPhone SE, but this time, it’s different. The iPhone 16e, starting at $599, ditches the SE branding completely, signaling a shift in Apple’s approach to cheaper smartphones. Available for pre-order on February 21 and shipping February 28, the 16e is not just another pocket-friendly phone—it’s Apple’s most accessible gateway into the AI era.
The biggest upgrade is Apple Intelligence, the company’s answer to ChatGPT and Google Gemini. The 16e now joins the iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro as one of the few devices capable of running Apple’s AI tools. These on-device AI models enable text summarization, email drafting, and image generation without depending on the cloud. Siri also integrates ChatGPT for free, meaning users can access OpenAI’s chatbot without a registered account.
It has a USB-C charger port, 6.1 inch screen, OLED screen, NFC and Apple A18 Bionic chipset. The iPhone 16e runs iOS 18.3 operating system.
The iPhone 16e also has a 6.1 inch screen, OLED screen, NFC, 48MP wide rear camera, 12MP wide front camera, Apple A18 Bionic chipset, 460ppi screen, 8GB RAM, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage, Apple C1 modem, Face ID, 4K 24fps, 25fps 30fps and 60fps rear video recording camera, 1080p 25fps, 30fps, 60fps, 120fps and 240fps rear video recording camera and 4K 24fps, 25fps 30fps and 60fps front video recording camera, 1080p 25fps, 30fps, 60fps, 120fps front video recording camera.
The iPhone 16e becomes the most affordable gadget in the iPhone 16 family. It is the first budget iPhone to have a USB-C and Face ID. It has a Apple C1 modem.
