On Wednesday, February 19th, Apple announced its newest budget-friendly phone, the iPhone 16e, which they claimed to be similar to the newest iPhone, the iPhone 16. They announced that the phone won’t come out until February 28th, with preorders starting on the 21st.

A YLHS student posed an important question regarding the creation of this phone model. Grace Acevedo (9) said, “Why? Isn’t it [the iPhone 16e] just a lesser phone model [than the most updated], like the iPhone 15?” But the 16e is meant to be a close cousin to the iPhone 16, rather than a lesser model. It’s to be made with the same processor as the iPhone 16, equipping it with Apple Intelligence that was previously only featured on all iPhone 16 models and premium iPhone 15 models (CNN). However, one significant difference is the lack of camera control feature on the iPhone 16e, which remains unique to the iPhone 16 (CNN).

Additionally, the 16e has many features that set it apart from Apple’s previous budget product line, which was last updated in 2022. The 16e has facial recognition, camera quality, and a larger screen than the iPhone SE, which was the last product added to Apple’s budget lineup (IGN). In this regard, it feels more modern and like regular Apple phones than the iPhone SE did. One downside is that the iPhone 16e is $100 more expensive than the iPhone SE, but its benefits far outweigh the extra cost (IGN).

There are two shades available, a matte black and a matte white (Apple). The phone itself is visually identical to the iPhone 14, at least front-wise, but the biggest distinction between regular iPhones and the iPhone 16e is located on the back. The iPhone 16e features only a single camera, differing from the multiple cameras found on the newer iPhone models. The 16e is priced at $599 currently for 128 gigabytes of storage, which is a $100 price downgrade from even the regular 16 (Apple). As always, Apple offers trade-ins on older iPhone models for up to $630 off depending on the model being traded in, as well as financing plans starting at $24.95 a month for 24 months (Apple). So far, only Internet services like T-Mobile are providing deals on the new phone, requiring the purchase of a new or existing line, but as its release nears there may be more upcoming deals (T-Mobile).

Liana Bindhi (9) said, “This will be a more affordable option for those who wish to upgrade to Apple but don’t have the funds to do so. This will help people” summarizing the reason behind Apple creating this new iPhone model. With its features nearly identical to its regular price counterpart, this iPhone is perfect for anyone looking to save some money on a quality phone.