Apple’s new iPhone 16E: Why it’s not the cheap iPhone you wanted
Apple's announced a more "affordable" iPhone that's now placed firmly in the iPhone 16 family. However, with prices starting at just under $1,000 in Australia, it's not exactly cheap.
Apple has scrapped the iPhone SE series and introduced the iPhone 16E as its more budget-friendly flagship alternative.
It's a big leap from the 2022 iPhone SE, featuring a fresh design and upgraded performance.
Here's a rundown of what's different before we get into pricing, pre-orders and all that other jazz if you're keen to get your hands on Apple's latest tech.
- It runs on the latest A18 chip, delivering smooth, fast performance and access to Apple Intelligence.
- It features an all-screen design with no home button, but instead of a Dynamic Island, it has a notch.
- The screen is 6.1 inches in dimension, a noticeable upgrade from the 4.7 inches we got on the 2022 iPhone SE.
- The iPhone 16E also includes the customisable Action Button, which you can use as a shortcut for things like switching between ring and silent modes, accessing your notes app quickly or opening the camera or flashlight.
- There's a 2-in-1 camera system (so a single 48-megapixel camera module at the back), similar to what you would find on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus but without a telephoto or ultrawide lens, or zoom options besides 2x zoom.
- It features Apple's own modem, the C1, that'll in theory improve battery life. According to the tech giant, the iPhone 16E will offer up to 26 hours of video playback. The iPhone 16 base model gets up to 22 hours.
- Other specifications include Face ID, eSIM capabilities, IP6 water resistance, USB-C, and wireless charging (but it's not MagSafe).
- There are only two colours available: White and Black.
iPhone 16E price in Australia
With all the tech and design upgrades, Apple slinging higher-than-expected price points isn't exactly surprising although rumours circling had suggested no more than a $50 price hike.
- $999 for 128GB
- $1,199 for 256GB
- $1,549 for 512GB
These prices sit more in the mid-range category than budget-friendly. You could even get a flagship Android like the Pixel 9 for around the same cost.
Surprisingly (and annoyingly), opting for higher storage pushes it well beyond mid-range territory.
For comparison, the 2022 iPhone SE started at $719 for 64GB, $799 for 128GB, and $969 for 256GB. The iPhone 16 lineup (excluding the latest model) starts at $1,399.
And if you're wondering, Samsung's Galaxy S24 FE costs $1,099 for 128GB and $1,199 for 256GB.
Following the announcement, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus on its website alongside the iPhone SE.
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When do pre-orders for the iPhone 16E start?
Pre-orders in Australia will kick off at 12am AEDT on Saturday 22 February 2025. Given the slightly awkward timing, we expect retailers and telcos such as Optus, Telstra and Vodafone to launch pre-orders on their website later that morning.
The iPhone 16E will then officially go on sale on 28 February.
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