Apple has introduced the iPhone 16e, an innovative addition to the iPhone 16, which provides advanced capabilities at a more accessible price point.
The iPhone 16e boasts rapid, seamless performance and exceptional battery life, attributable to the industry-leading efficiency of the A18 chip and the new Apple C1, the first cellular modem designed in-house by Apple.
iPhone 16e is engineered for Apple Intelligence, an intuitive personal intelligence system that offers relevant assistance while advancing privacy in artificial intelligence initiatives. The device features a 48MP Fusion camera, which enables users to capture stunning photographs and videos, complemented by an integrated 2x Telephoto capability that provides optical quality zoom.
In the absence of cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity, Apple’s groundbreaking satellite features—including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via satellite—ensure that iPhone 16e users remain connected and can receive assistance when it is most critical.
The iPhone 16e will be offered in two sophisticated matte finishes—black and white—with an array of colorful cases available for customization. Pre-orders will commence on Friday, February 21, with general availability scheduled for Friday, February 28.
According to Kaiann Drance, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, “The iPhone 16e integrates features that our users appreciate from the iPhone 16 lineup. It includes exceptional battery life, rapid performance driven by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative dual-camera system, and Apple Intelligence. We are enthusiastic about the iPhone 16e's role in completing our lineup as a powerful and affordable option, thereby extending the iPhone experience to a broader audience.”
Durability is a hallmark of the iPhone 16e, featuring splash, water, and dust resistance with an IP68 rating. It is equipped with a Ceramic Shield front cover composed of an advanced formulation that surpasses any other smartphone glass in durability and is the most resilient back glass available in the smartphone market.
The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with OLED technology presents an edge-to-edge design that is ideal for viewing HDR videos, engaging in gaming, and reading sharp text. The iPhone 16e offers the longest battery life ever recorded for a 6.1-inch iPhone, lasting up to six hours longer than the iPhone 11 and up to twelve hours longer than all generations of the iPhone SE. Moreover, Face ID, supported by the TrueDepth camera system, enables users to securely unlock their devices, authenticate transactions, sign in to applications, and more. Convenient charging options, including wireless charging and USB-C, facilitate easy connectivity to a wide range of accessories.
The performance and connectivity of the iPhone 16e are powered by Apple’s latest-generation A18 chip, which ensures fast and efficient processing, remarkable power conservation, and the functionality of Apple Intelligence. The 6-core CPU is designed to be up to 80 percent faster than the A13 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 11, adeptly managing both routine and intensive tasks.
The 4-core GPU enhances graphics performance, enabling users to engage in graphically demanding mobile gaming, including AAA titles and rendering with hardware-accelerated ray tracing for enhanced lighting and reflection realism. Additionally, the 16-core Neural Engine is optimized for extensive generative models and operates machine learning models up to six times faster than the A13 Bionic.
Further enhancing its capabilities, Apple has developed the C1 modem, the first modem designed internally by the company and noted for being the most power-efficient modem ever implemented in an iPhone, delivering swift and reliable 5G cellular connectivity. The integration of Apple silicon—including the C1 modem—new internal design principles, and advanced power management features provided by iOS 18 collectively contribute to the remarkable battery life.
The iPhone 16e is specifically designed to leverage Apple Intelligence, unlocking a range of exciting new functionalities that enhance the user experience. Features such as the Clean Up tool simplify the removal of distracting elements from images, while natural language search within the Photos application enables users to locate specific images or videos by merely describing them.
Users may also discover creative avenues for visual expression through Image Playground, generate customized emojis with Genmoji, and enhance their writing dynamics with Writing Tools. Moreover, users can input commands to Siri, which has become more conversational, capable of maintaining context through successive requests. Siri can also answer numerous inquiries regarding Apple product features and settings, facilitating user learning on various tasks, such as screen recording or scheduling text messages for later delivery.
Integrating ChatGPT into Writing Tools and Siri further enhances functionality, providing users with seamless access to expert assistance without the need to switch applications, thereby improving productivity. Users can utilize ChatGPT free of charge, without requiring account creation, while privacy measures ensure that users' IP addresses are obscured and OpenAI will not retain request logs. Users retain full control over ChatGPT integration and can decide when to utilize this feature.
Apple Intelligence represents a significant advancement in the realm of privacy concerning artificial intelligence, meticulously designed to safeguard users' privacy throughout their interactions. The initiative begins with on-device processing, allowing many of the models that underpin Apple Intelligence to operate entirely on the device itself. In scenarios necessitating access to larger models, Apple’s innovative Private Cloud Compute extends the principles of privacy and security inherent to the iPhone into the cloud, thereby unlocking enhanced intelligence. Notably, when utilizing Private Cloud Compute, users' data remains unstored and is not shared with Apple; it is solely employed to fulfill user requests.
The iPhone 16e introduces the Action button, which enables users to seamlessly access a variety of functions with a single press. After customization within the Settings application, the Action button can facilitate quick access to the camera or flashlight, transition between Ring and Silent modes, recognize music using Shazam, activate Voice Memos, Focus, Translate, and accessibility features such as Magnifier, or employ Shortcuts for additional functionalities. Furthermore, the Action button can interface with in-app functionalities, including launching the camera in Snapchat, unlocking a car door through FordPass, and tracking a child's sleep schedule with Napper, among other tasks.
Moreover, the Action button on the iPhone 16e initiates a novel visual intelligence experience, enhancing the capabilities of Apple Intelligence to assist users in learning about various objects and locations. This visual intelligence feature can summarize, copy, and translate text between languages, detect phone numbers or email addresses with the capability to add them to contacts, identify flora or fauna, and more. Additionally, it empowers users to conduct Google searches to ascertain where to purchase items or leverage ChatGPT’s problem-solving capabilities. Importantly, users retain control regarding the utilization of third-party tools and the information shared.
The iPhone 16e is equipped with a powerful dual-camera system, ideal for capturing both everyday moments and significant memories, including in Night mode and Portrait mode. Utilizing advanced computational photography, the 48MP Fusion camera produces exceptionally high-resolution images that balance light and detail effectively. The integrated 2x Telephoto functionality provides users with the equivalent of two cameras in one, facilitating optical zoom to draw closer to the subject and compose their shots with ease. Furthermore, the front-facing TrueDepth camera, complete with autofocus, produces sharper close-ups and aesthetically pleasing group selfies. The most recent generation of High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology captures subjects and backgrounds with authentic representations of skin tones, while ensuring that images feature luminous highlights, rich mid-tones, and deep shadows.
The iPhone 16e excels in video recording, offering the capability to capture footage in 4K with Dolby Vision at up to 60 frames per second. Users are afforded the flexibility to pause and resume recordings to better encapsulate moments. Additionally, the iPhone 16e captures video with Spatial Audio for an immersive auditory experience when utilizing AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, or a surround sound system, while providing enhanced editing options for audio tracks. Users can manipulate audio after capture to concentrate on on-screen dialogue, enhance sound quality to resemble a professional studio recording, or position dialogue in the foreground while placing ambient sounds in the background. With integrated wind noise reduction, sophisticated machine learning algorithms automatically minimize unwanted noise, thereby improving overall audio clarity.
Finally, the iPhone 16e facilitates connectivity and provides critical assistance when users require it most. Apple’s satellite features enable users to send texts via satellite even in areas lacking cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. This includes the Messages via Satellite feature for communicating with friends and family, Emergency SOS via Satellite for contacting emergency services, and Roadside Assistance via Satellite for connecting with a roadside assistance provider in the event of vehicle issues. Additional functionalities, such as locating one's device through Find My iPhones are also available, further enhancing the overall user experience.