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iPhone 16e

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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

4K video

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

Shop and Learn

Apple Wallet

Account

Entertainment

Apple Store

For Business

For Education

For Healthcare

For Government

Apple Values

About Apple

iPhone 16E: Apple announces new version of iPhone 16

iPhone 16E: Apple announces new version of iPhone 16

Android Central and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change.

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Update (Feb. 19, 3:20 p.m. ET): Added statement from Qualcomm spokesperson.

Apple today announced the iPhone 16e, a $599 midrange smartphone with an A18 system-on-a-chip and an Apple C1 modem.

The C1 modem is the first-ever Apple 5G modem, which required years of research and development — plus a big acquisition — to complete.

What does this mean for Android? It’s proof that if Google and Samsung make in-house modems and SoCs well enough, they can ditch Qualcomm entirely for better performance and efficiency.

Apple today announced the iPhone 16e, a $599 spiritual successor to the iPhone SE with a 6.1-inch screen and an A18 chip. There’s a lot to like about this midrange smartphone, and it has the potential to shake up the market — potentially disrupting phones like the Google Pixel 8a and the OnePlus 13R. However, Android users should only be worried about one iPhone 16e specification, and that’s the Apple C1 modem.

5G modems are one of the rare mobile device components that only a few companies on the planet have created with success. Qualcomm, MediaTek, Samsung, and Huawei are a few of them, and that’s basically the end of the list. The iPhone 16e represents a breakthrough for Apple because it’s the first device to use an Apple-designed modem, called the C1.

Just like how Apple developed its own in-house silicon and phased out Intel for its Mac processors, you can expect future iPhones to eventually use Apple C-series modems exclusively. The company told Reuters that Apple will roll out its own modems across all of its products, though the exact timeline for that rollout is unclear.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineups use Qualcomm modems, which have, to date, been faster and more reliable than anything Apple has been able to develop on its own. For $1 billion, the company bought “the majority” of Intel’s modem business in 2019. It wanted to make its own modems, but as of 2023, a Wall Street Journal report detailed Apple’s struggles — and thus we got iPhones with Qualcomm modems for two more years.

Now, it seems the company is finally on the right track to ditch Qualcomm in favor of its own 5G hardware. The Apple C1 chip features a baseband modem fabricated using the 4-nanometer process and a 7nm transceiver, per Reuters. It lacks millimeter-wave 5G support, but Apple says it offers “industry-leading efficiency” that leads to better battery life.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm believes it’s still the industry leader in cellular technologies.

“The best commercial smartphones currently feature our leading 5G-Advanced modem-RF system, which uses AI to optimize for the fastest and highest-capacity networks in every country,” a Qualcomm spokesperson told Android Central. “We’ll soon be unveiling the future of connectivity at MWC Barcelona.”

Apple has no plans to sell C-series modems externally, and that’s unlikely to change. So, why should Android fans care? The iPhone 16e and the C1 modem matter because they outline the blueprint for large Android OEMs to ditch Qualcomm themselves for their own in-house chips. Following the precedent Apple just set, it’s possible that one day we could see Samsung use Exynos chips for both mobile processors and modems, which would be huge for the Android market.

Apple’s reasons for using its own C-series modems are quite clear. For one, they’re likely cheaper. Apple spent a billion dollars buying part of Intel’s 5G business and maybe more on research and development, but it also pays a fortune to Qualcomm for the licensing of its technologies and the use of its modems. Based on napkin math and build-of-materials estimates from WCCF Tech, Apple could pay Qualcomm over $2.5 billion dollars if it meets its sales targets for the iPhone 16 lineup.

Aside from cash considerations, in-house modems allow Apple to tightly integrate its modems, processors, and software for greater efficiency.

The good news? There’s absolutely no reason why Android phones from Samsung or Google couldn’t also benefit from a lower build-of-materials cost and greater efficiency. If one of those companies managed to build an SoC and modem good enough, it could leave Qualcomm behind once and for all — result in Android phones with better battery life and potentially a lower price tag.

Android phones are a bit trickier than iPhones, because modems are typically integrated at the SoC level. For instance, because the Samsung Galaxy S25 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, it also uses a Qualcomm modem. Apple and Samsung would both love to use their own in-house modems, but they’re working in reverse. Apple made its processors first, then worked on modems. By comparison, Samsung already has the Exynos Modem 5400 ready — it’s inside the Google Pixel 9 series — but it can’t quite get its Exynos processors up to par.

Apple’s strategy is simple. Start with cheaper, lower-stakes phones to iron out any potential issues with the Apple C1 modem without tweaking flagship iPhones before its 5G technology is ready for primetime. And in a way, Samsung is already employing this strategy. Plenty of Samsung devices already use Exynos processors and modems as the company desperately tries to ramp up its chipmaking quality.

All that’s left is for Samsung to make an Exynos chip that can go toe-to-toe with Qualcomm’s best. When it does, Samsung will be able to leave Qualcomm behind, having near complete control over the processors, modems, and software in its devices for peak efficiency.

Apple is officially proof that it’s possible. However, if recent yield estimates for Exynos chips are any indication, Samsung has a long way to go.

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