Apple has just announced the iPhone 16e, which will cost $899. That’s $320 more than the iPhone SE launched several years ago. However, the iPhone 16e offers several improvements over the SE, but is it enough to justify the price?
The iPhone 16e features more elements found on newer iPhones than the iPhone SE, like the iPhone 13 and even the iPhone 16. For example, it has a 6.1-inch display that comes straight from the iPhone 13, which has the exact pixel resolution (1170 x 2532), 800 nits of brightness, and 1,200 nits of peak brightness.
Camera-wise, you’re looking at a similar shooter to the iPhone 16 with a 48-megapixel Fusion camera capable of taking super-high-resolution photos with up to 2x zoom.
The handset also has the Action Button that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro series. Users can customize the Action Button with tons of functionality, such as toggling mute, activating certain features like Focus mode or the camera, activating voice control and more.
The iPhone 16e also has the A18 chip with a 4-core GPU, which differs from the A18 chip found in the iPhone 16. The iPhone 16e also lacks the Camera Control feature that debuted on the 16 series, but it’s not all that necessary without the iPhone 16’s next-generation portraits with focus.
There are also a couple features the iPhone SE has that can’t be found on the 16e, like the home button and Touch ID. Check out a full comparison of the specs below:
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display (2532 x 1170 pixel resolution)
4.7-inch, Retina HD, LCD display, 1334 x 750 pixels, HDR 10, Dolby Vision
6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR, OLED True Tone display, 2532 x 1170 pixels, HDR 10, Dolby Vision
6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR, OLED True Tone display, 2532 x 1170 pixels, HDR 10, Dolby Vision
48-megapixel (f/1.6, 2x optical zoom)
12-megapixel (f/1.8, OIS, wide angle)
12-megapixel (f/1.6, OIS, wide) + 12-megapixel (f/2.4, OIS, ultra-wide)
48-megapixel (f/1.6, OIS, wide) + 12-megapixel (f/2.4, OIS, ultra-wide)
Up to 26 hours of video playback
Up to 19 hours of video playback
Face ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
Touch ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Face ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
Face ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
Colours: Starlight, Midnight, Product Red
Colours: Black, Pink, Product Red, Blue, White |
Colours: Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display (2532 x 1170 pixel resolution)
4.7-inch, Retina HD, LCD display, 1334 x 750 pixels, HDR 10, Dolby Vision
6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR, OLED True Tone display, 2532 x 1170 pixels, HDR 10, Dolby Vision
6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR, OLED True Tone display, 2532 x 1170 pixels, HDR 10, Dolby Vision
48-megapixel (f/1.6, 2x optical zoom)
12-megapixel (f/1.8, OIS, wide angle)
12-megapixel (f/1.6, OIS, wide) + 12-megapixel (f/2.4, OIS, ultra-wide)
48-megapixel (f/1.6, OIS, wide) + 12-megapixel (f/2.4, OIS, ultra-wide)
Up to 26 hours of video playback
Up to 19 hours of video playback
Face ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
Touch ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Face ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
Face ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
Colours: Starlight, Midnight, Product Red
Colours: Black, Pink, Product Red, Blue, White |
Colours: Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine
iPhone 16e pre-orders launch on February 21st, and the phone will be available on the 28th.
Header image credit: Apple
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