Apple has unveiled the new iPhone 16e – but what ’s new compared to 2022 ’s iPhone SE ?
Unlike previous iPhone SE climb , however , the iPhone 16e is a full overhaul of Apple ’s budget - friendly iPhone . It not only ditches the aged design for a more modern look , but it frolic a larger OLED panel , a undecomposed camera and much more .
Here ’s how the iPhone 16e liken to 2022’siPhone SE 3on paper .
Price & availability
The iPhone SE 3 was Apple ’s entry - level iPhone with a toll tag to match , come in at £ 429/$429 with just 64 GB of computer memory . It ’s no longer available to buy from Apple directly following the launching of the 16e , but it ’s still useable from third - company retailers while they examine to stir the remaining stock .
The iPhone 16e , despite being a spectral heir to the SE , get along in at a more premium £ 599/$599 . It ’ll be available to pre - edict from 21 February 2025 in front of release on 28 February 2025 .
The iPhone 16e sports a much more modern look
The iPhone SE 3 has a dated plan , there ’s no two ways about it . Sharing the same aim as the iPhone 8 , a phone released in 2017 , the iPhone SE 3 was the last holdout in Apple ’s iPhone ingathering . The repose of the collection shift to a new all - screen design , first with the iPhone X , and then again with the flat - sided iPhone 12 and later .
The iPhone 16e at last right those wrongs with a design that looks much more like a modern iPhone . That includes a new full - filmdom design , rounded corner , insipid edges and a tail that does n’t look too dissimilar to the iPhone 16 , albeit with just a single rear camera .
That also includes other recent creature comforts including the move from Lightning to USB - C , though you wo n’t find the Action Button or Camera Capture controls here – those remain exclusive to Apple ’s flagship iPhone collection .
The iPhone 16e ditches Touch ID for Face ID
To stick around in line with the rest of Apple ’s innovative iPhone collection , the young iPhone SE does away with the Home button and , with it , bread and butter for Touch ID . Though many will no doubt deplore the red of the last Touch ID - power iPhone , the creation of a pass with Face ID smarting is for certain an upgrade .
Just like with more modern iPhones , the iPhone 16e can scan your face to unlock your iPhone , authenticate payment and much more , and it ’ll work in any consideration , not just in well - lit rooms .
The notch itself is n’t Apple ’s most recent iteration , opting for the erstwhile - school notch in place of the more advance Dynamic Island on Apple ’s flagship image , but it ’s still a welcome summation .
The iPhone 16e features a larger OLED screen
With a redesigned chassis that no longer requires the Home push , the iPhone 16e has supernumerary elbow room to accommodate a large display than its predecessor .
That said , the iPhone 16e measures in at 6.1 column inch , offering a not - insignificant increment of 1.4 inches equate to the older 4.7 - in iPhone SE – and that ’s not all that ’s new either .
Along with a boosted resolution that brings the video display in production line with the iPhone 16 , the iPhone 16e also skylark an OLED panel , offering more lifelike colour and way deeper total darkness than its LCD - found precursor did .
It ’s an all - round raise of Apple ’s budget iPhone ’s display , though it ’s still stuck at 60Hz . Still , consider the iPhone 16 is also capped at 60Hz , that ’s not a Brobdingnagian surprise .
The iPhone 16e is much more powerful
The iPhone SE 3 shared the same A15 Bionic chipset as the iPhone 13 , the flagship iPhone released the year before . That provide a serious boost to operation big businessman that allowed the iPhone to outgo the mid - range challenger in benchmarks , something that lasted for quite some time .
Continuing this trend , the iPhone 16e boast the same A18 chipset as the flagship iPhone 16 that launched in former 2023 , offering similar carrying out to Apple ’s flagship .
This is undoubtedly one of the strongest points of the raw iPhone SE , allow it to run more New apps and games and keep pace with the relief of the mid - range smartphone market , if not some flagships .
The iPhone 16e offers a higher-res rear camera
The iPhone SE 3 ’s single 12MP rear camera was fine , but it was n’t exactly exceptional compared to similarly price Android alternatives .
Thankfully , the iPhone 16e introduce an upgraded 48MP OIS - enable main television camera – the same as that from recent simulation of iPhone – for an upgraded snapping experience .
There ’s still only a exclusive tv camera on the rear of the twist however , and some shot modes ( rather funnily ) remain exclusive to Apple ’s more exchange premium models of iPhone despite sharing primal photographic camera and processing hardware .
Those who want more television camera will still involve to invest in either an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro , though the upgrade 48MP sensing element should allow 2x digital zoom for add versatility .
Early thoughts
The iPhone 16e looks to be a complete inspection and repair of the gimmick , fixing most of our complaints about the old budget - friendly iPhone ’s dated conception and minor , low - res filmdom .
Some will surely bewail the going of Apple ’s last ‘ reliable ’ small - screenland iPhone with a larger 6.1 - inch panel this time around , but there ’s no deny that the new iPhone 16e offer way more bang for your buck than the previous example ever did .