Apple Newsroom (release video):

Apple today announced iPhone 16e, a new addition to the iPhone 16 lineup that offers powerful capabilities at a more affordable price.

“More affordable” compared to the existing iPhone 16 lineup, but more expensive than the iPhone SE it replaces.

$599 (128 GB) starting price. Pre-orders start Friday, February 21; available in stores Friday, February 28.

I’m an iPhone Pro guy—mainly for the cameras—so this isn’t for me. But if you need a new phone (say, for Apple Intelligence), this is the least expensive option.

iPhone 16e delivers fast, smooth performance and breakthrough battery life, thanks to the industry-leading efficiency of the A18 chip and the new Apple C1, the first cellular modem designed by Apple. iPhone 16e is also built for Apple Intelligence, the intuitive personal intelligence system that delivers helpful and relevant intelligence while taking an extraordinary step forward for privacy in AI.

A few observations:

• The “iPhone SE” brand is dead (although the conceit remains: an older case design with updated innards). The “SE” name always seemed problematic: Where did it sit in the progression of iPhone numbering? Apple now effectively has one iPhone brand—iPhone 16—with different sizes, features, and price points: iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. This no doubt makes things easier from a marketing perspective. I am curious though: When the presumptive “iPhone 17” comes out this fall, will there be an “iPhone 17e” next year? (My guess: yes, in an attempt to push yet more people into an annual upgrade cycle.)

• The iPhone SE (3rd generation) was the smallest available iPhone, at 4.7”. iPhone 16e is 6.1”. I predict much wailing over the loss of a more compact phone option.

• Speaking of loss, for the first time since its introduction, no current iPhone has a Home button. The iPhone SE (3rd generation) was the final one to sport the iconic circle. It defined a generation. Pour one out.

• The Lightning port has also been ditched from all iPhones. It’s been a good run. (But, what the hell, Apple?).

• Using the A18 leaves just the 10th generation, no-modifiers iPad as the only device not capable of Apple Intelligence. I expect we’ll see an 11th gen iPad with an A18 soon enough—though I’ve already guessed wrong on the timing once. (Curiously, the A18 chip in the iPhone 16e is a 4-core GPU; the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have a 5-core GPU; the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have a 6-core GPU. Which would they use for an 11th gen iPad? Also, I wonder—are the missing cores disabled or binned?)

• It makes sense to roll out the Apple C1 cellular modem in a low-volume, mid-cycle refresh. It may also show up in that just-mentioned iPad update later this year, and then perhaps in this Fall’s iPhones (but production volume could make that a 2026 thing).