Apple has released its new budget phone, the iPhone 16e, in a low-key manner at a competitive price of $599. Contrary to past product releases, there was no fanfare or big event. Instead, CEO Tim Cook made a quick announcement on Twitter, followed by a press release announcing the details of the phone.
The iPhone 16e is a safe and functional option, taking much from the earlier models, particularly the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14. It maintains the same size, top display notch, and functionality as these earlier models. The Action button from the iPhone 15 has been added to the 16e, but the Camera Control feature of the iPhone 16 is missing.
Though the 16e is not necessarily a revolutionary device, it does have some interesting features, especially with its new custom C1 modem. Though modems generally are not a part of anything exciting, Apple’s internal development of the C1 modem is a significant turning point. This is the first instance where Apple has designed its modem, and it brings a distinctive technological aspect to the phone.
The unique attribute of the iPhone 16e, though, is its shared A18 processor with the iPhone 16. This confers several advantages to the 16e, including but not limited to the $200 gap between the iPhone 16 and the 16e in price. The A18 chip makes sure that the 16e is still a good performer, particularly when compared to older models with the older A16 chip since the A18 is supposed to be supported for longer with updates.
Along with its powerful hardware, the iPhone 16e comes loaded with Apple Intelligence, the generative AI platform of the company. Although the technology was thus far reserved for the more premium iPhone models, the 16e makes the feature available for budget buyers as well, making the phone a future-proof model for those wanting an affordable yet powerful one.
Overall, the iPhone 16e is not a revolutionary device, but its union of bleeding-edge components and competitive pricing makes it a great value for those willing to settle for nothing less.
