We are days away from Apple's "Awe Dropping" event on Tuesday, where we expect the rumored iPhone 17 to be announced. The iPhone 17 will likely be a follow-up to the iPhone 16, which launched in 2024. However, Apple's newest phone, the $599 iPhone 16E, was released in February and offers a unique appeal: Get some of the iPhone 16's best features (a 48-megapixel camera, iOS 18 and an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence) for $200 less than the $799 iPhone 16.
But do you buy the iPhone 16E now or wait for the iPhone 17 to debut in a few weeks? We think you should wait to buy either. Here's why.
Watch this: iPhone 16E Review 07:20
iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 17: Today
The iPhone 16E is meant to be a slightly more affordable version of the iPhone 16. Apple/CNET
The iPhone 16E has the distinction of being Apple's most affordable phone (before carrier discounts and deals) despite costing $170 more than the company's previous cheap phone, the iPhone SE from 2022. The 16E is aimed at those who want to get the newest cheapest iPhone with all the Apple perks they expect, like a good camera, services like iMessage and FaceTime, and years' worth of software upgrades.
The iPhone 16E carries the iPhone SE's old mantle and uses parts of old iPhones to create an affordable one. For example, the 16E's screen and body are similar to the iPhone 14 and it has the same processor that the iPhone 16 has. On paper, the 16E is an upgrade in nearly every way to the last iPhone SE. The iPhone 16E releases at the end of February. But if you want the iPhone 17, you're going to have to wait because it doesn't exist.
Apple hasn't announced the iPhone 17, and you can't preorder it yet. The next iPhone is just a bunch of rumors that paint the picture of a mythical newer phone that's better than what's available now. But the chances are high that Apple will release an iPhone 17 on Tuesday.
iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 17: Tuesday
The iPhone 17 hasn't been announced yet. In this picture, we used an iPhone 16 Pro and put the number 17 behind it since there aren't any photos from Apple of its unreleased phone. Apple/Viva Tung/CNET
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