For those like me attached to the se3, I think you can still get them from people like Total Wireless for $150 or so.

I have always preferred the smaller form factor – iPhone 5s, iPhone SE original and the iPhone SE3. I also prefer a phone that does not try to do it all. The SE did all that I wanted at a price that I liked. The new 16e is bigger and heavier (16% heavier, in fact) and too expensive.

I think you are right: you might as well pay a bit more and get the regular iPhone 16 if that form factor works.

I will be keeping our two SE3 for a long time.

iPhone SE replacement. A18 but one fewer GPU core than the iPhone 16. No Camera Control button, no Dynamic Island (but the notch). Similar camera system but no Ultra Wide. Does have satellite & AI capability. Qi wireless charging rather than MagSafe. Much more expensive ($599) than the SE

What this essentially means is that there is no more small factor budget iPhone. The previous 14 was being sold at $599. This will take over that slot since they just EOLed the 14 (first time they remove an iPhone mid cycle). And the SE with its smaller form factor and lower price ($429) is gone.

Guess Apple is afraid not many would pay +$250 just for a 2nd camera, MagSafe, and the dynamic island on the regular 16. So they likely felt the 16e couldn’t come in too cheap. Curious to see if folks will let their wallets communicate to Apple how they feel about such an upshift in the current economic climate.

Leaves the lineup in an ‘interesting’ state.

iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus.

The 16e has modern guts supporting Apple Intelligence like the regular 16, but with no Dynamic Island or 2nd camera. The 15 has the Dynamic Island, MagSafe (and not just Qi like the 16e), and 2nd camera but outdated internals without support for Apple Intelligence.
$599 vs. $799 vs. $699 says Apple feels Apple Intelligence support is worth less than Dynamic Island, 2nd camera, and MagSafe. Considering all their recent hype around Apple Intelligence I would have not guessed they see it that way.

Or it’s just an artifact of the transition to having AI-ability as the minimum competence for a phone, one that will disappear when the 17 shows up and the 15 goes away. I generally don’t take these “lineup misalignments” as saying anything about how Apple sees things in a broader sense. It’s just the result of product scheduling.

It’s got an Apple modem rather than a Qualcomm one, so caveat emptor on that one.

Apple claims their C1 is the reason the 16e gets the great battery life they say it has. They, however, do not mention anything about cellular performance under eg. low-SNR conditions. If it does that well, they might have a real winner on their hands (mm wave notwithstanding).

I can’t help but wonder if the high price is due to the tariffs on China. It may be a sign that the prices on other models will go up soon as well.

At the same $599 price as the iPhone 14 was yesterday, you get a much better phone which basically is missing only the Dynamic Island and the wide-angle camera (and Qi charging instead of MagSafe and Qi ) and which likely will be supported for 1-2 years longer with iOS updates.

There was just a story that I saw today that so far Apple has absorbed the higher cost for laptops imported from China so far. but, yes, I would not be surprised to see Apple change the pricing on iPhones in September when they introduce new models and realign the existing models to older model pricing.

I believe that this is not a replacement for the SE but a combination of a replacement for the iPhone 14 and the SE at the bottom of Apple’s line at the same price the iPhone 14 was, but a better choice for people looking for a phone at the bottom of Apple’s iPhone pricing. They may end up losing some potential customers to low-cost Android phones, though.

It will indeed be interesting to see how this thing does against the regular 16. There’s a $230 gap (the 16e doesn’t have the bogus $30 carrier discount). That’s a lot of moolah for essentially just the wide angle camera and Dynamic Island.

And an extra 64GB of RAM. The base SE came with 64; the base 16E comes with 128.

… until they are able to ramp-up production in their non-Chinese factories. We know that Apple does some assembly in India and Brazil, and Foxconn has factories in Thailand, Malaysia, Czech Republic, South Korea, Singapore and the Philipenes.

One more thing: I just remembered that Apple stopped selling the iPhone SE and the two-year-old iPhone 14/14 Plus models in the EU at the end of 2024 because they did not have USB-C ports, so this brings the lower-end back into that market.

The Apple website indicates that this model includes emergency SOS via satellite so that is a plus for me.

Yeah but I paid less for my SE 3rd gen with 128GB and need to double it for the photos, songs I’ve loaded on it, along with the iOS updates and apps. $600 for a 256GB 16e is a bit more than I want to spend. However, if a refurb 16Pro with 256GB was $900, I could justify that…magsafe, lidar, more cores, USB-3 speed vs 2, more ram, more screen and brighter screen, titanium frame, better battery, and better modem (5G Ultra is missing from the 16e, as well as 2 cores less in the GPU). I cannot see having 128GB phone with a 48MP camera. You will take more picts. (Apple is cattlechuting more to iCloud subscription storage…yup.)

RIP Home button. Oh and Apple trade in value of my 128GB Red SE 3rd Gen…$100. Got the Home button! Someone will pay me double that (phone is clean, unlocked).

Yep, there’s no comparison with the 3rd gen SE.

Even with 128 GB that thing was going for $479. A whopping $120 less than the new “SE”, i.e. the 16e. The era of “budget” iPhones is over.

MASSIVELY disappointed with this. Too big, too heavy, too many bells and whistles, and at NZD 1,200 for the base model WAY too expensive.

Had been eagerly looking forward to the announcement and with 3 SE 2 models to upgrade was anticipating buying immediately. Replacements will now be non-iPhones.

The case size and display specifications match the iPhone 14 exactly.

And you’ll have to pry my iPhone 12 mini from my fingers until another similar sized iPhone is released.

As Adam notes, too big for a variety of reasons.

With the exception of the camera bump - 0.44” for the 14, 0.33” for the 16e, plus no camera plateau on the 16e - just a lens ring bump. The 16e is also a lighter phone.

I’ve voted with my wallet — just purchased a refurbished 2022 SE to replace my well-used 2020 SE (while I’ll sell once I do transfer to the new phone) and hopefully keep me on the form factor I prefer until around 2030.

That’s because it isn’t weighed down by Qualcomm patents.

I’ve read all of these comments, and I’m still quite clear that the satellite features are a requirement for any new phone(s) that we buy. I have the iPhone 15 Pro, but my Wife still likes her SE. We live and hike in the Northern AZ high desert. All of the numerous features that are being debated with respect to the 16e versus the SE mean nothing to me without the satellite features. When it’s time to replace the SE, hopefully soon, we’ll definitely get an iPhone with satellite features.

I enjoyed the delicate balance between disapproval and objective analysis in this article …!

As I noted above, the 16e tech specs indicate that it does have satellite connectivity:

(buried way down that page in Peace of Mind!)

Being confined to the Canadian cellular market, I have a lot less choice. Every time I change a phone my old contract is cancelled and replaced with a new, more expensive one. I have been able to get around this by buying IPhone SEs as needed and swapping the SIM card. Now I prefer the smaller size of the SE, and haven’t found Apple Intelligence of any use on my Mac, so I would have gone for another SE when the current one fails. This move means that I not only have to buy a bigger and more expensive phone, but I’ll have to get a bigger and more expensive contract! That will probably result in a move to an Android phone.

This was also mentioned in the YouTube presentation.

I am missing this: where is the link to the YouTube presentation?

It must’ve been posted in another thread, but I can’t find it now. So maybe it got lost/deleted when the other 16e announcement thread got merged into this one.

Here’s a link to the announcement video from Apple’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/mFuyX1XgJFg

Apple has the same video on their web site (at least for now). At the top of Apple’s main page (https://www.apple.com/), there’s a link “Watch the film”. There another link to it on the 16e’s product page (iPhone 16e - Apple), if you scroll down a little bit.

I’m just happy we’ve finally had iPhone models ending in +, e, c, and GS.

We’re done, folks. The naming suffixes are all spoken for.

I want to add that aside from refurbished products (e.g. iPhone 13 and 14 models), there no longer are any products sold new with lightning connector. There might be some older Airpods or Pencil that still use it, but the newest variations lack it. The iMac models now have magic keyboard with USB-C (or altleast that option is available) as well as the “magic mouse” that you lay on its side to charge, unable to use thus so until charged.
All the new iPad models are USB-C as well.

Why doesn’t Apple promote this? “We listened! All products we sell as current and new, are featuring the USB-C connector!” … and chirp chirp. How about a magsafe or Qi charging mousepad and magicmouse so you can actually use the mouse while its charging? (Apologies Apple but when someone asks me for alternative, I recommend Logitech MX Anywhere)

Fare thee well, Lightning connector.

I don’t follow Apple marketing closely but somebody who does says:

Q: What do you think of how Apple is promoting USB-C on the iPhone 16e?
A: This is a funny one. For years, Apple fought the European Union on its mandate to switch all of its devices to USB-C from Lightning ports. The EU argued that getting everyone on USB-C would improve the user experience and save people from needing multiple cables and chargers. Apple pushed back, saying the government was meddling in product design decisions and that the move would create environmental problems. So now it’s very Apple-like to see the company suddenly take pride in the switch and promote USB-Cas a major new iPhone 16e feature. It’s even touting the benefit of only needing a single cable.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-02-23/apple-abandons-budget-phones-inside-apple-s-modem-m4-macbook-air-launch-timing

I also appreciate the smaller form factor and a phone that doesn’t try to do it all. I don’t store my music on my phone – that is what dedicated iPods (Touch for music, Nano in the car for podcasts and audiobooks) are for. Photos I store offline, with only a “curated” set on the phone. I am unimpressed by AI. I would still have a flip phone if our carrier hadn’t essentially required 5G, although I do appreciate the much better camera and the ability to occasionally use maps. And I love the Home button. When my wife died last year, I kept my SE2 and traded in her iPhone 13.

Nobody ever seriously disagreed with the technical points of the EU. USB-C supports higher bandwidths than Lightning (although I think one iPad model supported USB3 over it), and a lot of the original and really cool concepts for Lightning (e.g. devices able to detect non-USB peripherals via an ID chip and dynamically reconfigure the pins for the needs of the device) never happened.

The most significant argument, which the EU didn’t care about, is/was the massive installed base of Lightning-enabled devices. It’s not like in the 80’s, where there were dozens of proprietary connectors, each one only compatible with a very small number of phones, none having much market share. In this case, we’re only talking about two connectors, both of which have very large market shares.

The rest of the arguments are/were just click-bait for the press. And everybody, including Apple, knew it.

I’m sure Apple was planning to switch to something different (not necessarily USB-C) eventually, simply due to Lightning’s technical limitations, much like how they switched from the Dock connector to Lightning due to its technical limitations. (And how lots of other popular interfaces got replaced over the years - abandoning ADB, SCSI and serial ports for USB, FireWire (while it lasted) and Thunderbolt.)

The only thing the EU really did was force Apple to make the switch on a government-mandated timetable instead of on Apple’s own schedule.

And it is not the least bit surprising that, the switch now having been made, Apple is promoting it as the greatest thing. That’s their marketing style. They do this for every new feature of every product, no matter how big or small it might actually be.

Two more points:

• Apple already standardized on USB-C chargers. All the EU did is make everyone get different cables.

• My concern is that the EU is effectively freezing the innovation at this point. Imagine if the EU had made this directive 10 years ago; we’d be stuck with micro USB-B connectors on all the devices. There never would be a USB-C.

  Sure, they say that device manufactures can petition for change, but I don’t think that will ever happen. It is a chicken-and-egg problem: no new technology can be added as a port because the EU won’t allow it, so no new technology can be introduced and gain support.

Not for me. I was very pleased when Apple was forced into the USB-C world. It was extremely irritating having to carry multiple cables just to hook up my Apple gear.

I so prefer the smaller less expensive SE. There are features I don’t want on a phone and i am willing to compromise a little - but not with footprint or USBC over lightning - and AI should be 100 opt in and off at purchase… I guess I’ll keep my phone longer than I expected but I like it very much. And now I can look at this with a little more hmmmm Leitz Phone 2 | Leica Camera US

I’m rather more sanguine than that. I remember the days of lots and lots of different style adaptors (and that was just in the USB family!). I’d rather they stick with USB-C for too long than open it up to every new thing that appears. I don’t need lots of innovation in the port space – I need consistency and familiarity.

Ugh, I too prefer the smaller SE, which I currently have. I’m not sure which version… it might be an original SE (in the about section is just has “SE”. Any idea how long Apple will be supporting this model? How about the SE 2 and SE 3?

The original SE, which resembled the iPhone 5 but had the same processor at the 6s, has not received iOS updates for a few years - its last iOS version was 15.x.

The second SE, which resembled the iPhone 8 but had the same processor as the iPhone 11, is still getting iOS updates, but I’d expect that it will not get too many more, and it may be that iOS 18.x is its last update. It will likely follow a similar schedule as the iPhone 11.

The third SE, which also resembles the iPhone 8 but has the same processor as the iPhone 13, and also supports 5G mobile data, is also still getting iOS updates, and likely will for as long as the iPhone 13 does.

There are some reviews of the iPhone 16e at Daring Fireball and The Verge now.

The consensus seems to be that the iPhone 16e is for people who aren’t really iPhone-involved. They don’t care much about photos, don’t know what MagSafe is, wouldn’t appreciate the Dynamic Island, and so on.

I’m not surprised by the reviews, but I think they miss the point.

As the least-cost model, it is not going to have all the bells-and-whistles of the high end models. But most people are not content-creation professionals (unlike the people writing the reviews). They’re taking family/vacation photos and occasionally some short video clips. They don’t care about fancy artistic capabilities and will probably never set the camera app to anything other than the default operating mode (“Photo”).

I am such a user, and I’m sure I’m far from the minority here. The features I care most about are:

• Calls and texting, both via the mobile network and various apps (Messages, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, etc.)
• Maps and navigation. Both Apple’s app and third-party apps.
• Banking apps
• Shopping apps
• Games
• Battery life

All the remaining features are nice to have, but are nothing that will drive a purchase decision. This is why the SE series sold so well, and is why I think the 16e is going to sell a lot more than the pundits are expecting.

I wonder how many people buy their phones by paying full price up front vs using various carrier gimmicks to pay over time through upgrade programs and fancy calling plans.

One issue with the latter approach is that customers become less price sensitive, so it is easier for Apple and the carriers to increase prices significantly without the customer noticing.

I really struggle with the idea of the least expensive phone in Apple’s lineup costing US$600 while getting “Eh, it’s okay” reviews.

I used to always take advantage of the “gimmicks”. Typically getting the phone for free or a reduced price in exchange for a multi-year contract commitment. Since I have no intention of ever switching carriers, this was a no-brainer.

But, as a result of bad press and I think some lawsuits involving “lock-in” and large early-termination penalties, I don’t think deals like this are available anymore. At least they’re not available from Verizon.

Today’s Verizon special offers are all of the form “pay full price up front, and get your discount as pro-rated statement credits for the next two years”. Even so-called “free phone” promotions involve paying full price up front and getting the price refunded over two years.

And for those who can’t or don’t want to pay the full price up front, they offer zero-intererst financing where you pay a pro-rated amount of the cost on each month’s bill (less the pro-rated discount).

So instead of an explicit early-termination penalty, there’s now an implicit penalty. If you cancel service prematurely, you must immediately pay the outstanding balance for the phone’s financing and lose any unpaid discount amounts.

In other words, everybody always feels the pain of a phone’s price, because you have to pay it all up front, but get your discounts spread out over two years.

And yes, I don’t like spending that much for a phone. But the alternative (a cheap no-name Android phone) is so much worse that I pay for it. I went that route for a while, and found that the phones are garbage from day-one and usually fail before two years (when I could qualify for another cheap price). And a not-garbage Android phone costs as much or more than an iPhone.

So I pay full price. But I don’t pay for it very often. I will keep my phone for 5-6 years or more (paying for battery replacements as necessary), until my favorite apps are no longer compatible. Whereas in the past, when I could get phones with a real discount, I would upgrade every two years and stay close to state of the art.

My current phone (a 13 mini) is definitely showing some signs of age, but I’m not going to replace it until it actually dies, because any replacement worth buying costs too much.

I remain delighted with my iPhone 13 mini, though the battery life has begun fading. It lasts long enough to get me through my work day, but not much more. I’ll probably replace the batery at some point and then keep using it as my primary phone until Apple stops providing iOS updates. I do periodically get hands-on with newer devices via work, but I can’t say any of the newer features/devices excite me very much.

I think the reviews (at least Gruber’s( Daring Fireball)) agree with you. Here is the conclusion of Gruber’s review:

"The iPhone 16e is an iPhone for people who don’t want to think much about their phone. But they do want an iPhone, not just any “whatever” phone. A just plain iPhone, with a good screen, good enough (and simple) camera, and great battery life. I think Apple nailed that with the iPhone 16e. "

While I’m not interested in the 16e (or any of the SE models before it), as for MagSafe - I just don’t need it. To me charging wirelessly, though good to have as a fallback, seems wasteful in terms of energy use, potentially damaging to the battery pack if used long-term (mostly because of induced heat in the charging coils), so if Apple removed MagSafe from all phones tomorrow and left instead Qi charging, I’d be fine with it. (I strongly doubt that Apple will do this.)

I do take advantage of the MagSafe magnets for accessories, such as the MagSafe wallet I carry my driver’s license in, and I have a MagSafe mount on my bicycle, but those would work with a case that provided the MagSafe magnet ring if the phone did not have them. And I believe that some third-party 16e cases exist that can do this.

As for camera quality - I know people who happily take photos with their mediocre iPad and iPad mini cameras rather than their phones, sometimes because it’s handy, sometimes because it has a large screen that makes framing the photo easier for older eyes.

FWIW, AT&T’s pitch for the last few years sounds like what Verizon no longer offers. You get a relatively large “discount” on a new phone, but it’s doled out in monthly increments over three years. And you have to trade in a phone that meets certain minimum standards, and agree to the three-year contract.

Uh, what you said is what the reviews said.

A somewhat odd claim since it’s been revealed the battery Wh capacity increased by roughly the same amount as the battery life.

Apple staff still ogle my 13 Mini at the store, saying “don’t ever get rid of that phone. Wish I had one.” Very disappointing small form phones are gone. Was hoping to upgrade but will use my iPad mini 7 as a stand in for Intelligence.

I’ve always paid full price up front (I’ve always bought an iPhone SE). T-mobile doesn’t really offer much in the way of discounts unless I add another line, which I don’t need and will significantly increase my monthly fee. I may trade in my current SE and purchase the new 16e directly from Apple (bought my last phone directly from them).

I like mine. The problem is the Home button on the bottom. That’s a mechanical component and t will wear out before the phone does. I have an iPod and that’s exactly what happened.

It’s going to be fun watching all these reviewers come back in Sep with their 17 Air reviews. Right now, many of them sound like they’re saying the 16e isn’t for people who like to take pictures, as if anybody who does photography needs at least 3 different lenses to get a decent shot. But when Apple releases the rumored 17 Air as a higher-end iPhone with just a single lens and everybody and their dog will be scrambling to find a reason to get this “totally new iPhone”, it’ll be interesting to see if the same reviewers won’t come to a rather different conclusion regarding single lens being adequate for decent photography.

A lot of people like to do photography which is slightly out of the mainstream, some of which requires a longer lens. I like to do bird photography without carrying a heavy camera/lens and will consider the next phone, which will likely have a 5x 48 megapixel camera. This should work well with the central 12 mp for a 10x lens if Apple improves the optical image stabilization. It won’t be as good as a larger camera system but will at least be portable and should work decently in bright light for stationary subjects.

Those with an iPhone 16e who are missing MagSafe can now get a case for it. I like the Smartish cases.

I bought the new 16e about a week or so after it was announced. I was able to trade in my iPhone SE for a discount, which made the new phone more affordable. I like the phone very much and the camera, which I use frequently, is fine. I don’t miss the Home button on my former SE at all.