It finally happened: Apple stopped treating its affordable iPhone as a second class citizen. We expected a new iPhone SE, but we got the iPhone 16e, which sits at the same table as the other iPhone 16 models. It’s not just the name, it’s also the size, the chip that powers it, and a couple of other details that make the iPhone 16e a very interesting entrant into the iPhone 16 lineup.
However, the iPhone 16e is also significantly more expensive than the (now discontinued) iPhone SE. Is it worth it, or should you just dish the extra cash for the “real” iPhone 16? Read on.
Apple iPhone 16e price
The iPhone 16e starts at $599 with 128GB of storage space. Increase that to 256GB and the price goes up to $699, and if you opt for the 512GB variant, the price jumps to $899.
Compared to the old iPhone SE, which cost $429 when it came out in 2022, it’s a big price increase. Given that the iPhone SE has been discontinued (alongside the iPhone 15), the cheapest new iPhone is now the 16e, and it’s in a very different price range.
On the other hand, the iPhone 16e starts at 128GB of storage, which is double what you got with the last generation of the iPhone SE. And unlike the old SE, the iPhone 16e doesn’t immediately scream “old.” Instead, it looks like and performs like a modern iPhone.
I reckon the pricing will incite mixed responses from potential buyers. Folks who will never pay more than five hundred bucks for a phone are now priced out. Others may be excited that they can get a “real” member of the iPhone 16 family for only $599.
Apple iPhone 16e design
When I reviewed the iPhone SE, back in 2022, it was a very different experience. That phone looked dated compared to the top iPhones of the day, with a significantly smaller display and massive bezels on top and bottom.
But the iPhone 16e looks pretty great. On the front, it’s basically an iPhone 14, with a large, 6.1-inch OLED display. There’s no Dynamic Island on top; instead, you get the notch which hides the front camera, the Face ID camera, the speaker, and various sensors.
On the back, there’s only a single camera coupled with a flash light. It’s a big unit, though, and in an odd way it looks better (cleaner, at least) than the multi-camera arrays on more expensive iPhones. Only two colors are on offer, black and white. My review unit was white, and I loved both the matte white glass on the back, and the way the white frame contrasts with the dark display bezels on the front.
The frame is made of aluminum, and just like on the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16e also gets the Action Button. It’s nice of Apple to include it; I typically set it to perform one thing and never change it again, but it’s better than the old switch.
Overall, Apple struck the right balance with the iPhone 16e’s design. It’s a no-nonsense iPhone that doesn’t look ancient, and it also doesn’t look or feel cheap in any way.
