After much speculation, Apple has finally unveiled the iPhone 16e, confirming most of the rumors. This budget-friendly iPhone features a new name (goodbye, iPhone SE), Apple’s A18 chip (the same one found in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus), and Apple Intelligence. It also includes a USB-C port. In the Philippines, the starting price for the iPhone 16e with 128GB storage is PHP 39,990.
As expected, the iPhone 16e adopts a similar design to the iPhone 14, boasting a sleek form factor with flat sides and curved edges. It features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with an edge-to-edge design and a large notch that houses a 12MP TrueDepth camera and Face ID hardware.
On the rear, the device sports a single camera with a 48MP Fusion sensor. It offers an integrated 2x telephoto capability and optical image stabilization, allowing for high-quality recordings up to 4K with Dolby Vision at 60 fps.
Under the hood, the iPhone 16e is powered by an Apple A18 chipset and runs on iOS 18. This enables Apple Intelligence, which brings several AI features including the Clean Up tool which removes distracting elements in images, and a natural language search in the Photos app.
The budget phone also comes equipped with the new Apple C1, the first cellular modem designed by Apple, although now this affects the handset’s cellular signal and speeds remains to be seen.
Other features include a USB-C port, complying with the European Union’s common charging standard mandate. It supports data transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps. It also introduces an Action Button, which can be customized for various functions.
Price and Availability
The iPhone 16e sees a huge price increase in the Philippines. The 128GB variant is priced at PHP 39,990, the 256GB variant at PHP 46,990, and the 512GB variant at PHP 58,990.
Available in Black and White, the iPhone 16e follows Apple’s trend of not including a charger in the retail box, offering only a USB-C cable. The device will be available in the Philippines soon. Stay tuned for more details.
It comes in either Black or White colors. Like other iPhones, the 16e does not include a charger in the retail box, only a USB-C port. The device will be available in the Philippines soon. Stay tuned for details.
iPhone 16e specs
- Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, 2532×1170, HDR, True Tone, Wide color (P3), Haptic Touch, up to 1200 nits, HDR10, Ceramic Shield
- Processor: Apple A18
- Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB
- Rear Camera:
48MP Fusion, integrated 2x telephoto lens with OIS
True Tone flash, Photonic Engine, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 5, 4K 60fps video, 4K HDR 60fps - Front Camera: 12MP
- Network: 5G, 4G LTE, dual SIM (nano and eSIM)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, NFC
- Others: Face ID, Face Time, USB-C with Display Port, stereo speakers, IP68 water resistance, Emergency SOS, Crash Detection, Action Button, Apple Intelligence
- OS: iOS 18
- Colors: Black, White
- Battery:
Video playback: Up to 26 hours
Audio playback: Up to 90 hours
Fast charging support, up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher, wireless charging
