Apple has recently released its latest budget phone, the iPhone 16E, which comes with many of the same features as the higher priced iPhone 16. The iPhone 16E is priced at $599, which is $200 lower than the iPhone 16, and is powered by the same A18 chip and iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence. Preorders for the iPhone 16E start on Friday, with availability commencing on Feb. 28. The phone features a 6.1-inch OLED display, IP68 water and dust resistance, and an aluminum design with a ceramic shield front and glass back. Both the iPhone 16E and the iPhone 16 have Face ID and USB-C ports, but the iPhone 16 has additional features like a Camera Control button and Dynamic Island.
In terms of battery life and storage, the iPhone 16E comes with Apple’s C1 modem, which Apple claims to be the most efficient modem in an iPhone, leading to longer battery life. The phone is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB options, and can offer up to 26 hours of video playback and 21 hours of streamed video playback. The iPhone 16E supports 7.5W Qi wireless charging, while the iPhone 16 is capable of 15W Qi2 charging, as well as MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with a 30W adapter or higher. Both devices feature 20-watt wired charging.
When it comes to cameras, the iPhone 16E is the only phone offered by Apple with a single rear camera, which is a 48-megapixel wide camera along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. The phone also has a 12-megapixel front-facing camera, allowing for 4K video capture at 60 frames per second. The iPhone 16E uses sensor cropping to achieve a 2x magnification for better zoomed-in shots, similar to the iPhone 16. As for Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16E includes the same features as the iPhone 16, such as a smarter Siri, writing tools, and the Clean Up tool in photos. This shows Apple’s commitment to making AI a core component of all its iPhone models.
Comparing the specifications of the iPhone 16E and iPhone 16, both phones have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The iPhone 16E is slightly lighter at 167 grams compared to the 170 grams of the iPhone 16. Both phones run on iOS 18 and are equipped with the A18 processor, have 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options, and do not support expandable storage. The iPhone 16E lacks a fingerprint sensor and instead uses Face ID for authentication. Both devices come with IP68 water and dust resistance, but the iPhone 16 has additional features like a Camera Control button, Dynamic Island, and a display brightness range of 1 to 2,000 nits.
In terms of pricing, the iPhone 16E starts at $599 for the 128GB model, $699 for the 256GB model, and $899 for the 512GB model. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 starts at $799 for the 128GB model, $899 for the 256GB model, and $1,099 for the 512GB model. The UK prices for the iPhone 16E start at £599, £699, and £899 for the three storage options, while the UK prices for the iPhone 16 start at £799, £899, and £1,099. Similarly, in Australia, the iPhone 16E is priced at AU$999, AU$1,199, and AU$1,549, while the iPhone 16 is priced at AU$1,399, AU$1,599, and AU$1,949. Overall, the iPhone 16E offers a more affordable option with similar features to the higher-priced iPhone 16.
