iPhone 16e Is An “Affordable” Device with AI & New Hardware
February 20, 2025Apple has finally announced the much anticipated “low cost” iPhone to replace the iPhone SE. Named the iPhone 16e, it borrows the look and feel of the iPhone 14, while incorporating some of the latest features from the iPhone 16 as well as a Type-C charging port.
It also has the latest satellite features that allow you to get assistance in an emergency when there is no cellular and Wi-Fi- coverage. This includes Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages and Find My via satellite.
The design brings it in line with the rest of the Apple family line up, which allows for Face ID and the inclusion of the Action button. This can prove useful for certain tasks depending on what you configure the button to do. It also has a larger 6.1-inch display, which is far larger than the 4.7-inch size of the last SE.
Since it’s being marketed as an “affordable” iPhone and the successor to the iPhone SE, it forgoes a dual-camera setup for a single 48MP sensor that offers 2x telephoto zoom. Apple says it’s a 2-in-one camera system, which should allow you to take good photos with a balance of light and detail.
The front gets a TrueDepth camera with autofocus that is supposed to capture sharper close-ups and detailed selfies. This and the Face ID hardware are in the 14-like notch instead of the Dynamic Island of the iPhone 16.
The phone is powered by an A18chip with a 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU, which can play demanding games and handle Apple Intelligence features. Its 16-core Neural Engine is optimised for large regenerative models and runs machine learning (ML) models.
It also happens to be the first iPhone with the C1 modem, Apple’s own hardware for 5G cellular connectivity instead of the Qualcomm one that’s in the iPhone 16.
ChatGPT is integrated into Writing Tools and Siri, allowing you to access the helpful AI assistant without having to move between apps. You can access ChatGPT for free without having to create an account. Apple says your privacy is protected and that IP addresses are obscured OpenAI won’t store requests.
Apple Intelligence on device processing ensures that many of the AI models that power it run entirely on the phone. For tasks that require larger models, the Private Cloud Compute will be used, but even that has privacy and security features to safeguard your use of the platform.
Despite having wireless charging, the phone loses the MagSafe feature, which may be a dealbreaker to users who are accustomed to the feature and supported accessories. However, if you’re coming from an SE or older generation iPhones that lack the feature, you wouldn’t feel deprived of anything.
The iPhone 16e is available in two matte finishes: white and black. You can choose between the 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage options. Prices start from USD599 (RM2,999) for the base model.
