Apple's new iPhone 16e is even cheaper than the iPhone 15
Apple released a new entry-level mobile device called the iPhone 16e in Canada. The fresh device is a watered-down iPhone 16 lacking some extra features to deliver a very capable, but more affordable, phone from Apple.
The device runs on the A18 chipset, has a single 48-megapixel camera and notably includes Apple’s first cellular in-house modem called the C1. This should be the most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone and marks Apple moving away from Qualcomm’s parts. The camera also allows for a 2x digital zoom, giving users two shooting options without losing quality.
The 16e has a 6.1-inch 60Hz screen that has the same colour, HDR and contrast ratios as the other iPhone 16 displays. That said, it’s also using the older version of Apple’s Ceramic Shield technology, so it might not be as durable as the other iPhone 16 handsets.
While the 16e doesn’t include a Camera Control button like the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, it does have an Action button, and for the first time, that button can be mapped to trigger visual intelligence. Since the 16e is running on the A18 chipset, it also supports all the other Apple Intelligence features like Genmoji and Notification summaries.
Where the phone might prove to be a star is with its battery life. It’s rated for 26 hours of video playback and should last 12 hours longer than the iPhone SE and six hours longer than the iPhone 11. Apple’s press release says that it’s the “best battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone,” but time will tell how much better it is than the iPhone 15/16 since I think it will compete with those the most.
While it’s not the perfect budget iPhone SE ($579) replacement, the iPhone 16e is cheaper than the other iPhone 16 models, giving more users the option to get a future-proof iPhone for less. All the current Canadian iPhone starting prices are below:
- iPhone SE (64GB)(discontinued)- $579
- iPhone 16e (128GB) – $899
- iPhone 15 (128GB) – $999
- iPhone 16 (128GB) – $1,129
- iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) – $1,449
Overall, for anyone looking for a simple iPhone, the 16e seems hard to beat. If the battery life claims do last as long as Apple suggests, this phone could be a great option for people who don’t care about the latest and greatest devices and who want something that will last for a few years at least.
The iPhone 16e comes in Black or White and will be available to pre-order on Feb. 21 and will hit store shelves on Feb. 28.