Pre-orders for Apple’s iPhone 16e just went live today, and if you are interested in getting your hands on the device, you can place your order right now. Apple has made a lot of changes with the iPhone 16e, and it only brings us to question if the device is indeed a budget phone that users were asking for. We believe that the iPhone 16e is not a budget phone, but a lot more.
The iPhone 16e is not a successor to the iPhone SE 3, but a device paving the way for the future of the iPhone
The iPhone 16e is a crucial device for Apple that paves the way for features which we will see in the flagship models later this year. Even though the design of the device is more or less similar to the iPhone 14, it keeps up with the flagships and Apple’s latest AI features. Its announcement alone removed the iPhone SE 3 and the iPhone 14 models from Apple’s lineup, which only shows how the company aims to move forward.
When we say that the iPhone 16e is more than just a budget phone, it means that it is the only device rocking a handful of functionalities that we will see in the future iterations of the iPhone and probably in upcoming iOS updates as well. Yes, Apple has increased the price of the device, but it is still $200 cheaper than the base model of the iPhone 16, while not compromising much. Moreover, it is potentially the most capable device at its price point, including Android handhelds.
The iPhone 16e features a single 48MP sensor at the back, which Apple is calling a Fusion camera, which could be the same technology destined for the iPhone 17 Air. The 48MP Fusion camera combines the high-resolution camera and the telephoto lens into a single lens, allowing the device to take crisp shots and up to 2x optical-quality zoom. We believe that Apple will use the same technology in the iPhone 17 Air model as well, as it is speculated to feature a single-camera setup as well.
Apart from the innovative camera, the iPhone 16e also comes with Apple’s custom C1 modem capable of 5G speeds. The iPhone 16e will not only provide Apple with market feedback, but it will also open doors for additional devices to jump on board. The C1 chip is now expected to be part of the future iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Watch models, as the company is aiming to make a complete shift in the next few years. While the performance of the chip is subpar compared to Qualcomm modems, it is a vital step in the right direction for Apple.
Apple has moved away from its conventional approach with another feature as well. Apple’s Visual Intelligence feature makes use of the Camera Control button as a shortcut on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models, but since the iPhone 16e does not have Camera Control, Apple went with an unorthodox adaptation. For the iPhone 16e, Visual Intelligence can be accessed using a dedicated shortcut for the Action Button, eliminating the need for Camera Control. This could have led Apple to believe that Visual Intelligence could be part of the older iPhone 15 Pro models as well, as it also features the same Action Button but no Camera Control. Potentially, the feature will be available with the iOS 18.4 or iOS 18.5 release.
These are three major aspects of why the iPhone 16e is important to Apple and how it could shape the forthcoming iPhone 17 lineup. This makes the iPhone 16e more than a budget phone, and it should not be perceived as one. Coupled with the A18 chip and 8GB of RAM, the iPhone 16e is a solid contender reaching for the top-selling device for Apple this year. The impact of the device will go a long way, and its presence in the industry is an indication that Apple has big plans for future iPhone models.
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