iPhone 16e
Latest iPhone.
Greatest price.
Built for Apple Intelligence.
From $599 or $24.95/mo. for 24 mo.1
Pre-order starting at 5am Pacific time on February 21
Pre-order starting at 5:00 a.m. PST on 2.21
Available starting February 28
Available starting 2.28
Beautiful, durable design.
Built to last.
Drop-dead gorgeous.
Drop-tested tough.
iPhone 16e has an incredible design — inside and out — and is available in an elegant black or white finish. Made from durable aerospace‑grade aluminum, the enclosure on iPhone 16e is built to go the distance and survive life’s oops, whoops, and oh nooos.
Tougher than any smartphone glass.
The front of iPhone 16e is protected by Ceramic Shield, which is tougher than any smartphone glass and ready to handle all of those real‑life situations. And iPhone 16e is resistant to splashes, water, and dust.4
A fast track to your favorite feature.
With a press you can use visual intelligence, call your best friend, launch your favorite app, and more.
One. For all.
iPhone 16e has USB‑C, a port for charging and connecting other Apple devices and a wide variety of accessories.
Put your best face forward.
Use Face ID to securely unlock, sign in to apps, and pay with just a glance.
Colors? We’ve got you covered.
Choose from two timeless colors. Accessorize with gorgeous cases. It’s one beautiful and stylish iPhone that goes with everything.
Stunning.
It runs in the family.
With the same great contrast ratio as iPhone 16, the brilliant edge‑to‑edge OLED display on iPhone 16e is perfect for watching shows, playing games, or reading.
From dusk till dawn.
And beyond.
iPhone 16e has supersized battery life — up to 6 hours longer in your day than iPhone 11, and up to 12 hours longer in your day than iPhone SE. It’s the best battery life in an iPhone this size. The remarkable power efficiency of Apple silicon — including the first Apple-designed modem, C1 — and iOS means iPhone 16e gets up to 26 hours of video playback.3 That’s more time to text, browse, and binge movies and shows.
Up to
26 hours
video playback
on iPhone 16e3
Up to
17 hours
video playback
on iPhone 113
Future-proof
your fast.
CPU performance:
GPU performance:
Make it yours.
For years to come.
When you use an iPhone, you’re using the incredibly intuitive and reliable iOS that gives you seamless ways to share photos and files, connect with friends and family, and more. With iOS 18, you can customize your iPhone Home Screen and Lock Screen. And the powerful A18 chip provides an extraordinary iOS experience — as well as ensuring that your iPhone 16e will be ready for future updates.
Learn more about iOS 18
AI‑opening
possibilities.
iPhone 16e is built for Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. Create your own emoji, edit a photo with Clean Up, and more. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.
Boost your productivity
Writing Tools can proofread your text and rewrite different versions until the tone and wording are just right, and summarize selected text with a tap. They’re available nearly everywhere you write, including third-party apps. You can even describe a change, like “make this dinner invitation more welcoming.”
Priority messages in Mail elevate time-sensitive messages to the top of your inbox — like an invitation that has a deadline today or a check-in reminder for your flight this afternoon.
Just hit record in the Notes or Phone app to capture audio recordings and transcripts. Apple Intelligence generates summaries of your transcripts, so you can get the most important info at a glance.
Express yourself visually
Make a Genmoji right in the keyboard to match any conversation. Want to create a chicken with a backpack? You got it. Just provide a description.
The Image Playground app lets you create unique images in distinct styles based on a description, a concept, or even a person from your Photos library. Experiment with image styles like animation, illustration, and sketch.6
Image Wand can transform your rough sketch into a polished image in the Notes app. Use your finger to draw a circle around your sketch, or simply circle an empty space, and Image Wand analyzes the content around it to produce a complementary visual.
With Clean Up, you can remove distracting background objects from your photos with just a tap — so you can perfect a shot while staying true to the original image.
A new era for Siri
With all‑new superpowers, Siri can assist you like never before. Awareness of your personal context6 enables Siri to help you in ways that are unique to you. Need to check when your mom’s flight is arriving? Siri can help find what you’re looking for, without compromising your privacy.
Richer language understanding and an enhanced voice make communicating with Siri even more natural. For example, if you stumble over your words, Siri still knows what you’re getting at.
Not sure how to do something on iPhone, like set a text message to send later? With expansive product knowledge, Siri can give you step‑by‑step instructions in a snap.
Apple Intelligence is designed to protect your privacy at every step. It’s integrated into the core of iPhone through on‑device processing. So it’s aware of your personal information without collecting your personal information. And with groundbreaking Private Cloud Compute, Apple Intelligence can draw on larger Apple‑designed server‑based models, running on Apple silicon, to handle more complex requests for you while protecting your privacy.
Learn more about Apple Intelligence
A camera so advanced,
it’s like getting two in one.
1x Fusion 26 mm
2x Telephoto
Portrait mode
Night mode
Enhanced low light
See the world through an entirely new lens.
Use visual intelligence through the Action button or Control Center to instantly learn about objects and places you see. Just point your iPhone 16e to discover more or interact with something in front of you. Pull up reviews of a restaurant you pass, search for where to buy a new item you spotted, and more.
Peace of mind.
On and off the grid.
iPhone 16e comes with Wi‑Fi, 5G connectivity,8 and eSIM.9 This means your calls are clear, your connections are superfast, and activating or adding a cellular plan digitally is easy and secure. With features like Crash Detection10 and Live Feed with 911, iPhone 16e helps you get the emergency assistance you need when it counts the most. And for times you’re without cell service or Wi‑Fi, our latest iPhone models, including iPhone 16e, can even connect to a satellite to send messages and more.11
Learn about eSIM
A few ways iPhone 16e gives you more.
Built for Apple Intelligence2
Up to
80%
faster
CPU performance
Up to
9 more
hours
video playback3
Super-high-resolution
48MP
photos
Satellite features
Durable design with Ceramic Shield
Get credit toward a new iPhone when you trade in an eligible device.
Designed to make
a difference.
iPhone 16e contains over 30% recycled content.13 And iPhone 16e uses 85% recycled aluminum in the enclosure.
Privacy is a fundamental human right. Which is why we design our products and services to protect it.
The best technology works for everyone. That’s why our products and services are inclusive by design.
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e
From $599 or $24.95/mo. for 24 mo.1
Apple Intelligence2
A18 chip
with 4‑core GPU
—
Camera control not applicable
two-in-one camera system
2‑in‑1 camera system
48MP Fusion camera
2x Telephoto
—
12MP Ultra Wide camera not applicable
Up to 26 hours video playback3
iPhone 16
iPhone 16
From $799 or $33.29/mo. for 24 mo.1
Apple Intelligence2
A18 chip
with 5‑core GPU
Camera Control
Advanced dual‑camera system
Advanced 48MP Fusion camera
2x Telephoto
12MP Ultra Wide camera
Up to 27 hours video playback3
To access and use all Apple Card features and products available only to Apple Card users, you must add Apple Card to Wallet on an iPhone or iPad that supports and has the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Apple Card is subject to credit approval, available only for qualifying applicants in the United States, and issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch.
Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc., is a service provider of Goldman Sachs Bank USA for Apple Card and Savings accounts. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank.
If you reside in the U.S. territories, please call Goldman Sachs at 877-255-5923 with questions about Apple Card.
T‑Mobile iPhone 16e Special Deal: Monthly price (if shown) reflects net monthly payment, after application of T‑Mobile trade-in credit applied over 24 months with purchase of an iPhone 16e and trade-in of eligible smartphone.
Existing customers: Receive credit with purchase of an iPhone 16e (based upon the model and condition of your trade-in smartphone) of $899, $800, or $400 for customers on a Go5G Next plan (excluding 55, Military, First Responder plans); or $800 or $400 for customers on a Go5G Plus plan (excluding 55, Military, First Responder plans); or $800, $600, or $300 for customers on a Go5G Next 55, Military, or First Responder plan; or $600 or $300 for customers on a Go5G Plus 55, Military, or First Responder plan; or $500 or $250 for customers on a Go5G, Magenta/MAX, or Essentials plan. Must be an existing T‑Mobile customer.
New or Add-a-Line customers: Receive credit with purchase of an iPhone 16e (based upon the model and condition of your trade-in smartphone) of $ $899, $800, or $400 for customers on a Go5G Next plan (excluding 55, Military, First Responder plans); or $800 or $400 for customers on a Go5G Plus plan (excluding 55, Military, First Responder plans); or $800, $600, or $300 for customers on a Go5G Next 55, Military, or First Responder plan; or $600 or $300 for customers on a Go5G Plus 55, Military, or First Responder plan; or $800 or $400 for customers on an Essentials, Simple Choice, TMO ONE/Plus, Magenta/MAX or Go5G plan (excluding 55, Military, First Responder plans); or $600 or $300 for customers on an Essentials 55 Choice, TMO ONE/Plus, Magenta/MAX & Go5G 55, Military, or First Responder plan. Must be a new T‑Mobile customer or adding a new line to an existing T‑Mobile account.
Max bill credits will not exceed the cost of the device. Credit comprised of (i) Apple instant trade-in credit at checkout and (ii) T‑Mobile monthly bill credits applied over 24 months. Allow 2 bill cycles from valid submission and validation of trade-in. Tax on pre-credit price due at sale. Limited-time offer; subject to change. Qualifying credit, data plan, and trade-in in good condition required. Max 4 promotional offers on any iPhone per account. May not be combinable with some offers or discounts. Activation required. Contact T‑Mobile before cancelling service to continue remaining bill credits on current device, or credits stop & balance on required finance agreement is due.
See the new
iPhone 16e in action.
Get the highlights.
Durable design
6.1‑inch Super Retina XDR display5
All-day battery life
A18 chip
iOS and apps
48MP Fusion camera
Connectivity
There’s never been a better time to upgrade.
Values
Apple Footer
Ceramic Shield
Action button
USB-C
Face ID
Colors
Compare battery life across the iPhone family.
Compare performance across the iPhone family.
Great powers come
with great privacy.
Your photos and
videos look amazing.
Visual intelligence
New
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone 16
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Entertainment
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About Apple
iPhone 16e – 5 things you need to know, including its price, camera, and that C1 chip
The iPhone SE is dead, long live the iPhone 16e
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The iPhone 16e is official. Following months of rumors, Apple announced its new budget smartphone on February 19, and the feature-packed device (which we thought might be called the iPhone SE 4) looks set to rank among the best cheap phones released in 2025.
The iPhone 16e replaces both the iPhone SE (2022) and the iPhone 14 in Apple’s iPhone lineup, and as such brings several meaningful upgrades over its now-outdated predecessors.
We’re reacting to the phone’s announcement in our iPhone 16e live blog, but below, we’ve rounded up five things you need to know about the iPhone 16e – from its price and availability to its display, chipset, and software upgrades.
The first thing to note about the iPhone 16e is its name. All previous generations of the iPhone SE have been marketed as separate from their respective mainline counterparts – the iPhone SE (2022), for instance, was considered entirely separate from the then-flagship iPhone 13 line – but the iPhone 16e is being positioned as part of the main iPhone 16 family.
In Apple terms, SE stood for ‘Special Edition,’ and the three SE models released prior to the iPhone 16e arrived at inconsistent intervals (2016, 2020, and 2022). The switch to a new naming convention – specifically ‘[generation number]e’ – could allow Apple to release a budget-friendly iPhone every year, similar to how Samsung releases lower-spec ‘FE’ versions of its flagship Galaxy devices every year.
Of course, ‘iPhone 16e’ also sounds more premium than ‘iPhone SE (2025)’ or ‘iPhone SE 4’, so the move could simply be Apple trying to boost the appeal of what is, essentially, its new entry-level iPhone.
The first hardware upgrade to note about the iPhone 16e is its screen size. Where the iPhone SE (2022) used a 4.7-inch LCD panel, the iPhone 16e boasts a comparatively huge 6.1-inch OLED display, which brings the SE series in line with Apple’s base-model iPhones and, incidentally, the Google Pixel 8a (so long, small phones). It’s stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate, but again, so are Apple’s base-model iPhones.
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The move to a more modern display size also means the omission of a physical Home button on the iPhone 16e. There are no Touch ID capabilities to speak of here – it’s Face ID or nothing, the components for which are tucked away in a visible notch at the top of the iPhone 16e’s display.
Visually, then, the iPhone 16e looks a lot like the now-discontinued iPhone 14, but the newer phone does benefit from an Action button (first introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro) and a more powerful (albeit solitary) main camera – more on this below.
Let’s talk about that camera. The iPhone 16e gets a single, 48MP wide lens on the back, which is complemented by a 12MP selfie camera on the front.
Being a lower-spec iPhone, we’re not surprised to see Apple stick with a single-lens rear setup for its latest budget-friendly model. In fact, the phone’s 48MP main camera is the same as the one you’ll find on the regular iPhone 16 – it’s Apple’s ‘Fusion’ lens, which features an integrated 2x telephoto that lets you zoom in with optical quality.
Considering that the iPhone SE (2022) used a 12MP main camera, the iPhone 16e’s 48MP lens marks quite the step up, though you’ll still miss out on a dedicated telephoto and ultra-wide lens by going for Apple’s new model. Camera Control, too, remains exclusive to the rest of the iPhone 16 line.
Under the hood, the iPhone 16e is leagues ahead of the iPhone SE (2022) and indeed many other iPhones released since then.
The device is equipped with an A18 chip, which is the same chipset inside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, and Apple has also included a larger, longer-lasting battery in the iPhone 16e versus the 2022 iPhone SE. We don’t have specifics yet, but given that the standard iPhone 16 managed 15 to 16 hours of screen-on time during our testing, we’d expect the iPhone 16e to deliver similar levels of endurance (Apple is quoting up to 26 hours of video playback, which is certainly an improvement).
Other internal upgrades for the iPhone 16e include the first-ever Apple-made 5G modem, the C1. Ever since Apple acquired Intel’s modem business for $1 billion, it’s been working hard to build its own modem in a bit to reduce reliance on Qualcomm, and the iPhone 16e is the first beneficiary of this years-long project.
It’s not yet clear how much better or worse the Apple C1 is versus the Qualcomm 5G modem you’ll find inside the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup, but superior battery efficiency could be on the cards for iPhone 16e owners.
All that said, the biggest under-the-hood feature of Apple’s new phone is its Apple Intelligence compatibility. Previously, the company’s AI feature suite was reserved for owners of the very best iPhones – think the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, and iPhone 16 Pro – but now, software tools like Clean Up, Notification Summaries, and the redesigned Siri are much more accessible, given the iPhone 16e’s less-than-flagship price (more on this below).
Now for the big question: how much does the iPhone 16e cost? The base, 128GB storage variant costs $599 / £599 / AU$999, and there are also 256GB and 512GB variants to choose from.
The iPhone SE (2022) launched for $429 / £419 / AU$719 back in 2022, but that was for the model with 64GB of storage. The 128GB model, meanwhile, cost $479 / £469 / AU$799, so the iPhone 16e’s starting price marks a sizeable increase.
That said, the 128GB variant of the iPhone 16 costs $799 / £799 / AU$1,399, so Apple’s new iPhone still undercuts the base model by a significant margin. It’s not cheap, per se, but it’s cheaper in iPhone terms. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s great value – we’ll have to put the iPhone 16e through our full review process before saying one way or the other.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e begin on February 21, and the device will ship from February 28. Will you be buying Apple’s newest iPhone? Let us know in the comments.
Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion. Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.
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New name, same USP
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A lonely (but powerful) lens
Flagship-grade internals
Cheaper, but not cheap
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Apple Unveils New Lower-Priced iPhone With A.I. Features
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The iPhone 16e is the first update to the company’s most affordable model since 2022, but carries a higher price tag of $599.
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