Apple unveils the $599+ iPhone 16e with a 6.1" display, A18, 48MP camera, Apple Intelligence, and Apple-designed 5G cellular modem, the C1, shipping February 28

Apple has officially taken the wraps off of the all-new iPhone 16e. The device features an all-new design paired with the A18 chip inside …

9to5Mac 2025-02-19 Chance Miller

Context & Ripple Effects

Apple’s lower-cost iPhone had most recently been represented by the $429 iPhone SE with Touch ID and A15, while the standard iPhone 16 line had already moved to A18 silicon and new hardware controls. The 16e narrows that product-tier gap with a modern 6.1-inch form factor and the same chip family.

The device also makes Apple’s C1 modem a shipping-phone component rather than a standalone technology claim. Later related coverage of a successor 17e retaining the $599 starting price and advancing the modem suggests the “e” line became a continuing tier rather than a one-off replacement cycle.

First-order effects

Buyers seeking Apple Intelligence and A18-class performance gain a $599 entry point, but the price is materially above the prior SE’s $429 starting price.
Apple begins deploying its own C1 cellular modem in a consumer iPhone, making modem performance and integration a direct part of its handset experience.

Second-order effects

The 16e creates sharper segmentation within Apple’s range: it brings current silicon to a lower tier while leaving buyers to weigh hardware trade-offs. A subsequent review highlighted the absence of MagSafe and an ultrawide camera, underscoring that distinction.
A production iPhone deployment gives Apple a real-world basis to iterate on its modem platform, increasing the strategic importance of in-house connectivity engineering in future device refreshes.

Third-order effects

If Apple continues putting its modem in successive “e” models, cellular connectivity could become another vertically integrated iPhone subsystem, alongside its custom application processors.
The line points to lower-priced phones becoming a channel for bringing on-device AI-capable silicon to more users, while preserving feature separation across the broader portfolio.

The trend: Apple is turning its entry iPhone tier into a vehicle for extending custom silicon and Apple Intelligence while maintaining premium-model differentiation.

Discussion

@tim_cook Tim Cook on x
Meet iPhone 16e, the newest member of the iPhone 16 family! #AppleLaunch [video]
@film_girl Christina Warren on x
It's actually insane that an iPhone 16e costs the same as a Mac mini M4. I fear we'll never get another Apple product with that kind of value ever again. (And we got the m4 mini less than 6 months ago)
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
The Apple Intelligence Siri glow will go around the notch on the iPhone 16e #AppleLaunch Also... What's happening on April 1 👀 [image]
@deedydas Deedy on x
The new $600 iPhone 16e, the next gen SE, lets you access ChatGPT from Siri while in other apps without an account. [image]
@shishirshelke1 Shishir on x
iPhone 16e doesn't support MagSafe and uses a 4 core GPU version of the A18 chip. The battery life is said to be better than 16. Gotta see how the new C1 modem performs in daily use though Still for the launch price, it's a hard pass. [image]
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
Battery life is impressive on the iPhone 16e #AppleLaunch [image]
@snazzylabs Quinn Nelson on x
Should have been $499 to start.
@film_girl Christina Warren on x
Absolutely this. $599 is just too high.
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
Here is the iPhone 16e mini-event video #AppleLaunch [video]
@gregorymcfadden @gregorymcfadden on x
I don't think $600 is a bad deal for the new iPhone 16e, but $500 would have just been a no brainer mid level phone killer. Hell even $550 would change the narrative, it's frustrating.
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
Wild that there is no MagSafe in the iPhone 16e [image]
@microsoftvapple Uncle Yoyo on x
iPhone 16e launched. Damn the pricing is horrendous. For almost the same price you get (the same during discounts) • Better cameras • Extra Ultrawide camera • Macro mode • Better display • Better processor • Magsafe This is Pixel 8 vs Pixel 8a all over again. [image]
@willguyatt Will Guyatt on x
iPhone 16e looks great for the price!
@dylanmcd8 Dylan on x
iPhone 16e is missing: - MagSafe - Ultra wide camera - Ultra wideband chip (AirTags/AirPods precision finding) - Camera Control - Dynamic Island - Color choices - A good price - A GPU core (iPhone 16 has 5, this has 4) - Photographic Styles - Current-gen Ceramic Shield - Outdoor …
@caro_milanesi Carolina Milanesi on x
The iPhone SE is dead long live the iPhone 16e From a quick look at the specs it feels the name change is warranted . Apple clearly prepping the more conservative part of its installed base for Apple Intelligence whether they know it or not. You get to iPhone 16e for camera [imag…
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
mini event video now on the Apple homepage and strangely on a plain gray backdrop rather than Apple Park [image]
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
Apple's Polishing Cloth is compatible with the new iPhone 16e! [image]
@mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x
So what is the point of the iPhone 16 with the iPhone 16e? You're paying a lot more for a slightly better camera system? If you want colors?
@joannastern Joanna Stern on x
RIP, iPhone SE. Long live, iPhone 16E. No home button. But action button. One 48MP camera. A18 chip and Apple Intelligence. 6.1-inch screen with notch. $599 for 128GB. https://www.apple.com/... [image]
@film_girl Christina Warren on x
New iPhone 16e looks good but $599 for the “cheap” iPhone feels like a lot. Idk. I am wholly unsympathetic to any value arguments here, as if Apple doesn't have 40%+ margins.
@joannastern Joanna Stern on x
RIP, iPhone SE. Long live, iPhone 16E. No home button. But action button. One 48MP camera. A18 chip and Apple Intelligence. $599 for 128GB. https://www.apple.com/... [image]
@film_girl Christina Warren on x
lol. Literally no one is going to use the action button for Apple Intelligence. [image]
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
the extra $200 is worth it when you consider that it adds: MagSafe, camera control, ultra-wide camera, Dynamic Island, better colors, faster wireless charging, newer wifi 7, and the tougher Ceramic Shield honestly, if you ask me the iPhone 16e is not a great deal when there are
@firstadopter Tae Kim on x
It's NOT an iPhone SE if it's the same freaking size as a regular iPhone. 🤦‍♂️
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
No mention of the AI Siri features in the 16e video or press release. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@wongmjane Jane Manchun Wong on x
The most important part of the iPhone 16e launch is the Apple C1 5G chip [image]
@dylanmcd8 Dylan on x
THERES NO MAGSAFE??
@zollotech Aaron Zollo on x
iPhone 16E details Black or White option 128/256/512 6.1 inch LCD 48MP camera A18 Apple Intelligence Starts at $599 [image]
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
iPhone 16e is OLED It is not LCD [image]
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
$599, a big jump from the $429 SE, for the iPhone 16e. Action Button is in. 128, 256 and 512 GB storage options. Black and white color options. iPhone 14 and iPhone SE are discontinued. Feb 21 for pre orders, 28th for release. C1 Apple modem is official.
@mkbhd Marques Brownlee on x
iPhone 16E is officially announced - White or black - A18 chip - 6.1" LCD with a notch - Single 48mp camera - Action button - Supports apple Intelligence $599 https://www.apple.com/... [image]
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
Here is the iPhone 16e [image]
@zollotech Aaron Zollo on x
iPhone 16e it is for the #applelaunch. It's here an will be available for preorder 2/21/25 at 8am et [image]
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
This is the iPhone 16e! • 6.1" Super Retina XDR display • A18 chip with 4-core GPU • iOS 18, Apple & Visual Intelligence • 48MP Fusion rear camera (Same as iPhone 16) • Apple C1 modem 25% more efficient • Starts at $599 at 128GB Preorders Friday, Available Feb 28th [image]
r/apple r on reddit
Apple debuts iPhone 16e: A powerful new member of the iPhone 16 family
r/iphone r on reddit
iPhone 16e Officially Announced
@stevekovach Steve Kovach on bluesky
“most power-efficient” is not the same as “fastest,” which I'm sure the folks at Qualcomm will be happy to point out. [embedded post]
@benbajarin Ben Bajarin on x
Also find it interesting Apple silicon C1 is a discreet modem and not on SoC. Although, not sure I expected it yet on SoC given chip design for A18 was done but now I wonder if Apple ever integrates modem on the SoC. They got good efficiency in this discreet design.
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
Apple dedicates 40 minutes a year in keynote time to talking about specs in its M series chips. This has nothing to do with the false idea that Apple still focuses on use cases not specs. This is because of Qualcomm royalty and comparative performance concerns.
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
The C1 Apple modem is a monumental technical achievement. A several billion dollar effort that has been in the works for 7 years. In the end it gets two sentences in the press release and 15 seconds in the announcement video. Apple is clearly downplaying this intentionally.
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
With iPhone 16e, Apple is doing their new in-house Apple C1 modem. This modem does the usual 4G/5G (sub-6 GHz), as well as Satellite and GPS connectivity. Because of the vertical control this gives Apple, it's about 25% more energy efficient than previous iPhones [image]
@dylanmcd8 Dylan on x
There is one exciting thing from the iPhone 16e: The C1 chip, Apple's first cellular modem! It's a large part of why iPhone 16e has significantly better battery compared to any other iPhone. Hoping we see these benefits with iPhone 17 as well. [video]
@basicappleguy Basic Apple Guy on x
Apple's First Cellular Modem, C1 #AppleLaunch [image]
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
The iPhone 16e actually has better battery life than the base iPhone 16 because of the C1 modem! 25% more power efficient modem seems to make a big difference, but not as fast as the Qualcomm modem which is fine for a $599 phone [image]
@benbajarin Ben Bajarin on x
While iPhone 16e is the newest member of the iPhone family, the C1 (Cellular 1) is the newest member of the Apple silicon family. Apple is mentioning, but not pushing as hard as I thought but it seems capable, world bands, no mmWave but doesn't matter for this device. [image]
r/gadgets r on reddit
Apple's first in-house iPhone modem is the C1 | The iPhone 16E will be the C1's proving ground.
@lauridonahue Lauri Donahue on bluesky
I love my little SE/mini! — Not everyone wants a giant slab of a phone. [embedded post]

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