Cheap new iPhone 16e costs hundreds less than top model but tempting AI phone kills three iconic Apple features forever
We reveal how the screen size compares to EVERY other iPhone
APPLE has revealed a brand new handset that costs hundreds less than last year’s top iPhone 16 model.
The new iPhone 16e is brimming with AI tricks – but it also marks the death of three iconic Apple features.
Apple’s 6.1-inch iPhone 16e seems to be a rebranding of the iPhone SE series, a line of cheaper smartphones that launched back in 2016.
This new model starts at £599 / $599, and is the first “budget” iPhone to support the new Apple Intelligence AI features.
These AI tricks let you create your own emoji, edit people out of selfies, and get your notifications summarised to save you time.
That’s far cheaper than the iPhone 16 (£699/$699), and hundreds less than the top-end iPhone 16 Pro Max (£1,199 / $1,199).
HOME, AND AWAY?
But the iPhone 16e is also the first model in Apple’s “cheaper” iPhone range to finally ditch the Home button.
Apple abandoned the Home button on its main line-up of smartphones back with 2017’s iPhone X.
It was ditched to let the iPhone have an all-display design, swapping out the Touch ID fingerprint sensor with a head-scanning Face ID feature instead.
But the Home button was kept on with Apple’s cheaper iPhone SE range – until now.
It means that 2022’s iPhone SE 3 will probably be the last-ever iPhone to feature a Home button.
LIKE LIGHTNING
That’s not the only feature vanishing from the iPhone either.
The new iPhone 16e comes equipped with a USB-C charging port, just like the iPhone 16.
Gadget fans will know that USB-C is all the rage, appearing on laptops and Android phones, in cars and hotel rooms, and just about everywhere else.
Apple switched away from its own Lightning cable for the more universal USB-C with 2023’s iPhone 15.
And now the iPhone 16e has abandoned Lightning for USB-C too.
The good news is that it means the same cable will work for more of your devices – not just your iPhone.
But it’s also a big sign that Apple is finally leaving Lightning behind. The iPhone 14 from 2022 is now likely the final Apple smartphone with a Lightning port.
SERIOUS STUFF
The new iPhone 16e comes sported an A18 chip built by Apple.
And it also connects to the internet using an Apple C1 modem, which is the first built by Apple itself.
IPHONE SCREEN SIZES – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
Here's how iPhone screen sizes have changed over the years – as measured in inches diagonally from corner to corner...
- iPhone (2007) – 3.5 inches
- iPhone 3G (2008) – 3.5 inches
- iPhone 3GS (2009) – 3.5 inches
- iPhone 4 (2010) – 3.5 inches
- iPhone 4S (2011) – 3.5 inches
- iPhone 5 (2012) – 4 inches
- iPhone 5S (2013) – 4 inches
- iPhone 5C (2013) – 4 inches
- iPhone 6 (2014) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 6+ (2014) – 5.5 inches
- iPhone 6S (2015) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 6S+ (2015) – 5.5 inches
- iPhone SE (2016) – 4 inches
- iPhone 7 (2016) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 7+ (2016) – 5.5 inches
- iPhone 8 (2017) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 8+ (2017) – 5.5 inches
- iPhone X (2017) – 5.8 inches
- iPhone XS (2018) – 5.8 inches
- iPhone XR (2018) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone XS Max (2018) – 6.5 inches
- iPhone 11 (2019) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 11 Pro (2019) – 5.8 inches
- iPhone 11 Pro Max (2019) – 6.5 inches
- iPhone SE 2nd gen (2020) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 12 Mini (2020) – 5.4 inches
- iPhone 12 (2020) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 12 Pro (2020) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 13 Mini (2021) – 5.4 inches
- iPhone 13 (2021) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 13 Pro (2021) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone SE 3rd gen (2022) – 4.7 inches
- iPhone 14 (2022) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 14 Plus (2022) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 14 Pro (2022) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 14 Pro Max (2022) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 15 (2023) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 15 Plus (2023) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 15 Pro (2023) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 15 Pro Max (2023) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 16 (2024) – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 16 Plus (2024) – 6.7 inches
- iPhone 16 Pro (2024) – 6.3 inches
- iPhone 16 Pro Max (2024) – 6.9 inches
- iPhone 16e (2025) – 6.1 inches
Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun
The gadget boasts a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, built with a TV-style OLED panel that can show true blacks by switching individual pixels off.
And it comes with a 48-megapixel Fusion camera on the back (with a built-in 2x telephoto lens too).
Apple says this is like “having two cameras in one”.
You can snap the gadget up in black or white matte finishes, and in 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage options.
Apple is promising a generous battery life, which it reckons is six hours more than the iPhone 11.
The gadget also features Apple’s Action Button, which was introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
This is a customisable button that you can assign to pretty much anything.
It’s set to switching between Ring and Silent by default, but you can make it open the camera or even switch on the iPhone’s torch.
APPLE INTELLIGENCE – WHICH DEVICES CAN USE IT?
Here's the official list of Apple devices with processors powerful enough to support the new Apple Intelligence features...
- iPhone 16e (2025)
- iPhone 16 (A18)
- iPhone 16 Plus (A18)
- iPhone 16 Pro Max(A18 Pro)
- iPhone 16 Pro(A18 Pro)
- iPhone 15 Pro Max(A17 Pro)
- iPhone 15 Pro(A17 Pro)
- iPad Pro(M1 and later)
- iPad Air(M1 and later)
- iPad mini(A17 Pro)
- MacBook Air(M1 and later)
- MacBook Pro(M1 and later)
- iMac(M1 and later)
- Mac mini(M1 and later)
- Mac Studio(M1 Max and later)
- Mac Pro(M2 Ultra)
Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun
This replaces the old Mute switch, which has now been removed from the main series of iPhones. That’s the third iconic Apple feature now resigned to the grave.
And it says you’ll get an extra 12 hours versus any iPhone SE model.
Apple’s iPhone SE line-up first launched in 2016, and was followed up with an iPhone SE 2 model in 2020.
It was then replaced again in March 2022 with a third-gen iPhone SE.
TOP APPLE INTELLIGENCE TRICKS TO TRY
Once you've updated to Apple Intelligence, try these out...
Genmoji
Open the emoji panel on your keyboard, then tap the smiley face icon with a plus symbol on it.
Then enter a description for the Genmoji that you want to create, tap Done, then tap Add on the Genmoji that you want to use.
Mail Summaries
Go to the Mail app and tap on an email.
Then just tap the new Summarise button.
Clean Up
Go into Photos, select an image, then tap the Edit button (it has three sliders as an icon).
Now tap on Clean Up, then tap, brush, or circle the object or person that you want to remove.
Once you’re happy, hit Done and your changes will be saved.
Image Playground
You’ll find this feature inside the new Image Playground app.
You can either create an image from a concept (like a theme or place), a description, or inspired by a person in your photo library.
Once you’re happy with the image, tap Done to save it to your gallery.
Smart Reply
Go to the Messages app, tap on a conversation, then press the text field.
A suggested reply might then appear – and then Apple Intelligence will draft it for you.
If you like it, send it!
To see if you’ve got an iPhone update waiting, just go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Picture Credit: Apple
Now nearly three years on, the iPhone 16e is due to release on Friday, February 28.
Pre-orders for the new iPhone 16e will begin on Friday, February 21.
