By: Nick Gambino
Apple has been creating budget phones for years. These are often cheaper versions of the main line of iPhones without all the bells and whistles. By opting for cheaper cameras and processor chips, they could bring the price way down.
It started with the iPhone 5C in 2013. The affordable version of the iPhone 5 proved popular and so set in motion a cost-effective version of the iPhone going forward.
Now Apple has announced their newest budget phone – the iPhone 16e. This replaces the iPhone SE which has been going strong with regular updates for almost a decade.
While the iPhone 16e is definitely a more budget-friendly phone, it’s not as cheap as the SE or other lower-cost smartphones. Once it hits the shelves it’ll cost $599 at its starting point. Again, that’s the lowest the price will go. If you want a 512 GB phone, it’ll cost you a whopping $899.
With the base model iPhone 16 going for $799 it’s not as significant a savings as you’d think or really at all if you opt for more storage. For comparison, the iPhone 16e’s predecessor, the iPhone SE, started as low as $429.
In terms of specs, the iPhone 16e features a 6.1-inch OLED display, 4-core GPU and is available in matte black and matte white. It’s similar to the iPhone 14 in many ways. But this one has the popular Action button (sorry, no Camera Control). They’ve also opted for a USB-C port as they finally phase out the lightning cable.
The iPhone 16e sports a single camera on the back clocking in at 48 MP. It includes a 2x telephoto lens for better zooming. Of course, there’s a front-facing camera for selfies. The camera is often where they save the most money on the build and so this is not unexpected.
Pre-orders for the new iPhone 16e start on February 21 and, as I stated earlier, prices begin at $599. It officially hits stores a week later on February 28.
