After a three-year hiatus, Apple has finally introduced its latest entry-level smartphone, the iPhone 16e, marking the replacement for the iPhone SE. The new model, priced at $599, offers a blend of cutting-edge features, including Apple’s own A18 chip and Apple Intelligence, making it the most affordable AI-equipped iPhone by $200.

The iPhone 16e mirrors the iPhone 14 in design, bringing a modern, full-screen experience to Apple’s budget lineup. It sports a 6.1-inch display, making it the largest screen yet for an entry-level iPhone. Unlike previous budget models, this iPhone now includes Face ID, a significant leap forward in user security and convenience. However, users will still encounter the traditional notch, as the dynamic features like Dynamic Island are reserved for higher-end models.

Externally, the iPhone 16e features a USB-C port for charging, in place of the classic Lightning port. Though it keeps a single rear camera, Apple has significantly upgraded it with a 48MP “2-in-1” lens that offers 2x zoom capabilities—a substantial improvement over the older iPhone SE models. On the downside, the iPhone 16e lacks MagSafe charging, and it only supports Qi wireless charging at 7.5W, which might be a dealbreaker for some users.

At the heart of the iPhone 16e is the powerful A18 chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. While it comes with fewer GPU cores than the higher-end models, the performance is still impressive, and it’s the first iPhone to feature Apple’s in-house C1 modem. This means the iPhone 16e supports sub-6GHz 5G and Wi-Fi 6, but not the faster 5G bands or Wi-Fi 7 available on the more expensive models.

Apple’s generative AI tools come to the iPhone 16e with the activation of Apple Intelligence, which includes features like Genmoji, Image Playground, and ChatGPT integration. These tools are part of the onboarding process, although users can choose to disable them if desired.

Available in black and white finishes, the iPhone 16e comes in three storage options: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. Pre-orders for the device start on February 21 at 8AM ET, with shipping set to begin on February 28.

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