iPhone 16e – The SE is back with a new name

If you want the latest iPhone right now, be prepared to cough up a hefty sum as it starts at PHP 54,990. If you don’t need the latest specs, there’s still the 15 available but it still starts at PHP 44,990. Below these price points is where the iPhone SE and iPhone Mini used to reside and that’s why their demise certainly left a void in the market. Now that void has been filled.

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Apple just launched the iPhone 16e, a 6.1-inch model that starts at PHP 39,990. It was expected to be the successor to the SE line – and it is – only now Apple changed its name and dropped the S. What does it mean? Only Tim Cook knows but for now, let’s take a look at the newest, most affordable iPhone. 

It takes off where the iPhone 14 ended as it features the same aluminum frame, glass back, and bezel notch upfront that houses a 12-megapixel camera and Face ID. It has the same 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display but at the back, it has an upgraded 48-megapixel Fusion camera that has an integrated 2x Telephoto mode. The Action button also made its way here with the same degree of functionality and this is charged via USB-C port.

Powering the iPhone 16e is the A18 chip with 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. This allows the iPhone 16e to handle Apple Intelligence, computational graphics, and leaner battery life. In fact, this lasts longer than the current iPhone 16. Video Playback is rated at 26 hours (vs 22 of iPhone 16) while Audio Playback is at 90 hours (vs 80 hours in iPhone 16). This is all thanks to the new Apple C1 which is the modem developed by Apple in-house for more reliable 5G connectivity, combined with the A18 chip and iOS 18. 

“iPhone 16e packs in the features our users love about the iPhone 16 lineup, including the breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, and Apple Intelligence,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing. “We’re so excited for iPhone 16e to complete the lineup as a powerful, more affordable option to bring the iPhone experience to even more people.”

The new iPhone 16e is available in White or Black starting at PHP 39,990. It’s available in 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB. Keep checking the Apple Store online or your preferred Apple dealer for availability.