- By Prateek Levi
- Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
iPhone 16e Launched: The year has just begun and up till now we have seen some very impressive launches and major tech giants coming out with their flagship series smartphones, like the Galaxy S25 series, but guess what the show is not over yet. Now it was time for Apple to come out with its first major announcement of the year. By now we have seen too many rumors floating around and leaks making us more desperate just to get a glimpse at what Apple has had to show yet, with speculations running wild the anticipation had reached its peak. But now it is finally here, Apple's first big announcement of the year, the iPhone 16e. This new device is an addition to the existing iPhone 16 lineup and comes at a more affordable price. From design and camera to next-gen AI features and a surprising input by Apple is its breakthrough battery life, this affordable iPhone is loaded with features and presents itself as a top contender in this segment.
This latest edition is made to handle Apple Intelligence and promises to deliver smooth performance thanks to the powerful A18 chip and the newly designed Apple C1 the first cellular modem designed by Apple.
“iPhone 16e packs in the features our users love about the iPhone 16 lineup, including breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, and Apple Intelligence,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing. “We’re so excited for iPhone 16e to complete the lineup as a powerful, more affordable option to bring the iPhone experience to even more people.”
So let's dive in and take a detailed look at what Apple has on offer with its latest release the iPhone 16e.
Design And Looks, Bidding Farewell To The Old Ways
This was one of the most anticipated changes that all the fans were looking up to, this new edition sports a design that is similar to the iPhone 14, and it is splash, water and dust resistant and boasts an IP68 rating. The front is protected by Ceramic Shield which is one of the toughest smartphone glasses in the market, and a sturdy back.
For the display Apple has gone OLED this time with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display and flaunts a satisfying edge-to-edge design, perfect for your viewing, gaming and reading experience.
Image credits: Apple
The star here definitely is its surprising battery life, Apple claims that the iPhone 16e has the best battery life on a 6.1-inch smartphone, and it also boasts of lasting up to six hours longer than the iPhone 11 and up to twelve hours longer than every generation of iPhone SE.
It also offers Face ID powered by the TrueDepth camera system, and with that, the users can unlock their iPhones, make secure purchases, log into apps, and more. The iPhone 16e also supports wireless charging and USB-C, making it easy to connect to various accessories.
Performance, No Compromise In Power
Yes, it's true, the iPhone 16e is powered by Apple's latest-generation A18 chip. This CPU has 6 cores and is claimed to be 80% faster than the A13 Bionic chip that powered the iPhone 11, this makes it capable enough to handle everyday tasks easily and also do some heavy lifting when it comes to using demanding features like the Apple Intelligence. It also packs a 4-core GPU for all of those who like to do gaming on the go, this device can handle demanding AAA titles and also features hardware-accelerated ray tracing that promises more realistic lighting and reflections for an enhanced gaming experience. On top of that the 16-core Neural Engine is designed for large generative models and runs machine learning (ML) tasks up to 6 times faster than the A13 Bionic.
Image credits: Apple
The C1 modem, Apple’s first modem, is the most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone, offering fast and reliable 5G connectivity. The efficiency of Apple silicon, including the C1, the new internal design, and the advanced power management of iOS 18 all work together to provide impressive battery life.
The 'Action Button'
Apple did not get rid of all the buttons after all and this time on the latest iPhone 16e Apple has introduced the Action Button, for smooth and seamless access to several functions just one press away. You can customize the action you want to perform with this button, once you are done you can either switch between ring or silent mode, access the camera, activate voice memos, translate or use accessibility features like the magnifier or Shortcuts to access more options.
This Action Button also supports in-app functionalities like you can launch the camera directly in Snapchat or unlocking a car door with FordPass
Image Credits: Apple
The Action Button also enhances the user experience by unlocking a new visual intelligence feature. Building on Apple Intelligence, the Action Button helps users discover information about objects and places around them. It can summarize and copy text, translate between languages, detect phone numbers or emails to add to contacts, and even identify animals or plants. Visual intelligence extends even further, allowing users to search Google for where to buy an item or use ChatGPT to solve problems. Importantly, users have complete control over when third-party tools are used and what information is shared.
A Powerful Camera System for Every Moment
The iPhone 16e’s 2-in-1 camera system offers versatility for capturing everything from everyday moments to unforgettable memories. With the 48MP Fusion camera, users can take ultra-high-resolution photos with the perfect balance of light and detail. The integrated 2x Telephoto lens provides optical zoom, allowing you to get closer to the subject without compromising on quality. The front-facing TrueDepth camera, with autofocus, ensures sharper selfies and group photos. The latest HDR generation captures true-to-life skin tones, vibrant highlights, rich mid-tones, and deep shadows, making every shot stand out.
Stunning Video Capabilities
Recording video on the iPhone 16e is an immersive experience, with 4K Dolby Vision support at up to 60 fps. Users can stop and restart recordings for added flexibility in capturing moments. The device also supports Spatial Audio for a rich, immersive listening experience, particularly when using AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, or a surround sound system. With the addition of Audio Mix, users can adjust the sound after recording, fine-tuning voices and background noises. Wind noise reduction, powered by machine learning algorithms, ensures clearer audio quality.
Apple Intelligence Is Here
The iPhone 16e brings Apple Intelligence to the forefront, unlocking new, exciting features that make the iPhone more powerful and helpful. One standout feature is the Clean Up tool in the Photos app, which allows users to easily remove distractions from images. The new natural language search lets you find photos or videos just by describing them.
Image credits: Apple
Apple Intelligence also offers creative tools like Image Playground, where users can create fun and unique images with various themes and accessories, and Genmoji for making personalized emojis. The Writing Tools enhance your writing, and Siri is now more conversational, following along if you stumble over words. Siri can also maintain context between requests and answer thousands of Apple product-related questions.
In addition, ChatGPT is seamlessly integrated into Writing Tools and Siri, offering access to AI expertise without switching between apps. Plus, you can use ChatGPT for free, without needing an account, and privacy is prioritized — your IP address is obscured, and OpenAI won’t store your requests.
Image credits: Apple
Apple is taking privacy seriously with Apple Intelligence. Most models run on-device, and for tasks that require larger models, Private Cloud Compute ensures data remains secure and never shared with Apple.
Groundbreaking Safety and Communication Features
The iPhone 16e brings powerful safety and communication features. With Apple’s satellite capabilities, users can send text messages via satellite when there's no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Emergency SOS via satellite connects users to emergency services, while Roadside Assistance via satellite helps users reach roadside assistance if they experience car trouble. Through the Find My app, users can also share their location via satellite when off the grid. Crash Detection automatically detects severe car crashes and can dial emergency services if the user is unable to respond.
Image credits: Apple
iOS 18: More Personal and Powerful
The iPhone 16e runs on iOS 18, bringing more customization and intelligent features. Users can personalize their Lock Screen and Home Screen, choose from light, dark, or tinted looks for app icons, and adjust the redesigned Control Center for easier access to their most-used features. New privacy features include the ability to lock and hide apps to protect sensitive information. The Messages app now includes text effects, expanded Tapbacks (with emojis, Genmoji, or stickers), and message scheduling. Plus, RCS support enhances messaging with non-Apple users by offering richer media and more reliable group messaging.
Image credits: Apple
Pricing and Availability
The iPhone 16e will be available in white and black, with storage options of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, starting at $599 (U.S.) or ₹59,900 (INR) for the 128GB model, ₹69,900 (INR) for the 256GB model, and ₹89,900 (INR) for the 512GB model. It will also be available for $24.95 (U.S.) per month for 24 months. Apple has offered some trade-in deals, with up to $120 (U.S.) for an iPhone 11 and up to $170 (U.S.) for an iPhone 12. Carrier offers can provide up to $400 (U.S.) for an iPhone 11 or up to $599 (U.S.) for an iPhone 12 when upgrading to the iPhone 16e.
Pre-orders will begin at 5 a.m. PST that is 6:30 p.m. IST on Friday, February 21, with availability starting on Friday, February 28. The iPhone 16e will be available in 59 countries and regions, including India, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Canada, and more.