The iPhone 16e is an iPhone 14 with some AI on top

Just as everyone expected it would, Apple finally announced the latest version of its most affordable smartphone model: leaving the SE branding behind, the iPhone 16e is a predictable yet interesting device for a few different reasons. What it isn’t, is cheap: people hoping that it would retain its sub-$500 positioning will be disappointed to hear that it starts at $600 – just $200 less than the iPhone 16 proper – bringing its perceived value into question as a result.

For all intends and purposes, the iPhone 16e is a mildly redesigned iPhone 14 featuring Apple Intelligence support: it’s no coincidence that this new model replaces both the previous iPhone SE and the iPhone 14 (which cost $600 and is now discontinued). Apple was forced to do this – complete the transition to USB-C in order to comply with EU regulations, that is – but the iPhone 16e is better than the iPhone 14 in a number of ways that have nothing to do with USB-C or Apple Intelligence.

For starters, the iPhone 16e is built around the A18 processor – which is quite powerful, despite missing a GPU core compared to the A18 variant of the iPhone 16 – and 8GB of RAM, necessary for Apple Intelligence but extremely useful for everything else. It also sports the Action Button, which can be (re)programmed to do a variety of different functions, as well as a “2-in-1” main camera based on the 48MP sensor of more recent iPhone models. The screens of the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 14 are of the same resolution and brightness (working at 60 Hz in both cases), but the new model promises longer battery life, which is always welcome.

In terms of hardware, what most of us are curious to see is how Apple’s first in-house cellular modem – the C1 found in the iPhone 16e – performs in everyday use. The company faced a few first-gen problems with some of its chips in the past and, since Apple will eventually put the C1 in every iPhone model, it’s worth keeping an eye out for reports on possible iPhone 16e 5G connectivity issues over the next few weeks and months.

The iPhone 16e looks way more interesting when compared to its predecessor, the 2022 iPhone SE – but, then again, that model feels positively archaic by today’s standards, sporting a 4.7-inch LCD screen, 64GB of storage and a mechanical home button. For people still using that iPhone, the new model offering a 6.1-inch OLED screen, 128GB of storage and FaceID is a serious upgrade worth their attention. The same goes for people still using an iPhone 11 or 12: they can get most of what the iPhone 16 offers without paying full price for it.

For everyone else, though, the iPhone 16e may be a tougher sell at $600 – especially for people not tied to the Apple ecosystem, as there’s a number of quality Android-based options available for less. Apple is basically preaching to the converted here, hoping that consumers will think of the iPhone 16e as the most affordable path to Apple Intelligence – but the functionality offered by the company’s AI platform is currently underwhelming with no clear feature roadmap in sight. By the time Apple Intelligence becomes something actually worth upgrading for, six to eight Benjamins could be buying a better iPhone than the 16e. Decisions, decisions…