After years of speculation and leaks, Apple has finally announced its highly anticipated iPhone 16e to the world, and it is as good as the rumors suggested. The device not only comes with a sleek new design but is also equipped with a chip for cutting-edge performance and modern connectivity. The iPhone 16e is poised to redefine what a budget-friendly iPhone can deliver, and it remains to be seen if the competition will take note.
Apple has finally launched the iPhone 16e with high-end specifications, support for Apple Intelligence, and a modern design
The iPhone 16e has been in the news for years, and the company has kept most of the details of the smartphone that were previously rumored. We will be diving deep into the device's design and internal details to see how it compares against the iPhone 16 lineup.
A fresh look for the SE inspired by the iPhone 14
In terms of design, gone are the thick bezels and the Home Button of the previous SE models, as the company has adopted a more modern solution with a notch. The overall design is inspired by the iPhone 14, which features a 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display and a smaller version of the notch. The OLED display is a massive upgrade from the previous version, with vibrant colors deeper blacks, and a high resolution, ensuring that users get an immersive user experience.
The notch houses Apple's front-facing camera and Face ID components, making a shift from Touch ID to the company's advanced facial recognition technology. Additionally, the aluminum frame and glass back maintain the company's premium design language while enhancing its durability, which is a major plus as the SE 4 keeps up with the flagship iPhone 16 lineup. However, there is a key difference between the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 14 - the Action Button, which makes it a better option compared to the Mute Switch, as Apple has also added additional functionality to the new key.
A18 Chip with 8GB of RAM delivering blazing-fast performance
As for the performance, the iPhone 16e comes with Apple's latest A18 chip, which is the same SoC that powers the latest iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. The powerful chipset will last you years while delivering a lightning-fast user experience. Another major trait of the A18 chip is its efficiency, which will be evident in the device's overall battery life. In comparison, the battery life of the iPhone 16e is far superior to that of the SE 3 due to its bigger chassis. The iPhone 16e, coupled with the new A18 chip, will also allow you to play high-end games on the go without any stutters while maintaining higher FPS.
Another significant advantage of the A18 chip coupled with 8GB of RAM is support for Apple Intelligence, which has been all the hype these days. Since Apple has restricted older hardware to not supporting its AI features, the iPhone 16e, with its budget price tag, is one of the best options that will allow you to enter the Apple Intelligence ecosystem.
Major camera upgrade
On the flip side, the iPhone 16e only comes with a single-lens camera at the back, but the company has made sure that the overall quality is improved with a 48MP sensor. This is a substantial jump from the 12MP sensor on the previous SE, allowing users to take enhanced low-light shots with enhanced HDR, allowing the device to capture sharper images with more details. On the front, you get a 12MP camera for crisp video calls and selfies.
Apple's custom 5G modem and USB-C
In compliance with EU regulations, Apple has also equipped the device with a USB-C port, which will make room for a plethora of accessories to be attached while delivering faster data transfer speeds. Moreover, it will also have a profound impact on the charging speeds of the device, which is always a plus, given how the iPhones have always been a victim of poor battery life, especially the iPhone SE 3.
The iPhone 16e also comes with Apple's custom C1 modem, which will allow the company to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm. Apple states that the new modem will deliver faster download speeds, but it remains to be seen how the new component will perform against Qualcomm's iteration. We will be sharing more details on the modem as soon as in-depth tests are conducted.
The iPhone 16e is priced at $599, which is a bit higher than the previous version, but considering the upgrades, it is still worth the upgrade. The iPhone 16e is available for pre-orders starting Friday, and we will be sharing follow-up coverage of the device, diving into intrinsic details and tests, so do stick around.
