Yesterday, the cheapest iPhone cost $429 if you wanted to buy directly from Apple. Today? It's $599. The new iPhone 16e replaced the iPhone SE, giving the aging device a much-needed cosmetic upgrade and power boost, but it comes at a cost. The overhaul is so big that the iPhone 16e is essentially a new class of device in Apple's smartphone lineup, hence the name change. (Apple didn't say what the “e” stands for.)
Apple also took this opportunity to cut the $599 iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus from its roster, though it has kept the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which cost more than the iPhone 16e. All of this effectively means Apple no longer sells an iPhone for less than $500. Does it matter? It might not make much of a difference in the United States, where most people purchase phones subsidized through carriers, and globally, there's a “premiumization” trend where consumers are opting for higher-end phones. First, let's dig into the details.
Photograph: Apple
The iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15
These are Apple’s two cheapest iPhones right now. The iPhone 16e has the more powerful A18 processor with access to Apple Intelligence, and the new Apple-designed C1 modem is supposedly so efficient that it enables better battery life than even the iPhone 16 despite the same 6.1-inch screen size. It also includes the same easy-to-replace battery mechanism.
But there are a few reasons to pay a bit more for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15. The screens are brighter, portrait photos might look better, and there's a spare ultrawide camera lens. Also, some camera features are available on the 15 series that aren't on the 16e, such as Cinematic and Action mode.
The iPhone 15 series also features Qi2/MagSafe wireless charging, so you can access a wealth of MagSafe accessories, whereas the iPhone 16e is stuck on the slower and less energy-efficient Qi wireless charging standard. You'll have to make do with MagSafe cases that replicate the functionality, though it doesn't improve energy efficiency or charging speed. (Weirdly, maybe Apple should have followed Samsung's “Qi2 Ready” approach?)