Apple announces the affordable iPhone 16e as the new iPhone SE

Apple fans, listen up! Remember the iPhone SE? The “budget” iPhone? Well, it’s gone. But don’t worry, there’s something new. Think of it as the SE’s cooler, more powerful cousin.

Say Hello to the iPhone 16e

Apple just announced the iPhone 16e. It’s got a bigger screen (6. 1 inches! ), better battery life, and something called “Apple Intelligence. ” Sounds fancy, right? It’s basically Apple’s version of AI, and it can do some pretty neat tricks.

What’s Apple Intelligence?

Imagine this: You take a photo, but there’s something distracting in the background. Apple Intelligence can get rid of it. Or maybe you’re writing an email and your words are jumbled. It can clean it up. And get this: it can even make custom emojis. All thanks to AI. Only certain iPhones have it so far. The 15 Pro, Pro Max and the iPhone 16 lineup. But those cost a pretty penny.

The Best Part? The Price.

This is where it gets interesting. The iPhone 16e starts at $599. Still not “cheap,” but way less than those other iPhones with Apple Intelligence. Apple’s VP of iPhone marketing, Kaiann Drance, said they’re excited to bring the iPhone experience to more people with this “powerful, more affordable option. ”

Battery Life That Doesn’t Suck!

One of the biggest complaints about the old iPhone SE was the battery. It was… not great. The 16e fixes that. We’re talking 26 hours of video playback. That’s 12 hours more than the SE! Apple even claims it’s the “best battery life ever on a 6. 1-inch iPhone. ” Six hours longer than the iPhone 11, they say.

Goodbye Home Button, Hello Modern Design

Remember the home button? The one with Touch ID? Gone. The 16e looks more like a modern iPhone. Bigger screen, no home button. It’s also got the A18 chip, the same one in the regular iPhone 16. That means faster everything.

Is It Really “Affordable”?

Here’s the catch. $599 is still more expensive than the old iPhone SE, which was $429. That’s a $170 difference. And there are other “budget” AI phones out there that cost less. Like the Google Pixel 8a, which sells for $399, unlocked. Is it truly “affordable? ” That’s up to you to decide.

When Can You Get It?

Pre-orders start February 21st at 5 a. m. PT. The phone will be available on February 28th. It comes in black and white, with storage options of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

The End of an Era

Apple CEO Tim Cook teased the new iPhone a week before. The iPhone SE, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are now discontinued. No more iPhones with home buttons. It’s a new chapter for Apple.