Apple has officially launched its latest smartphone, the iPhone 16e, in India, expanding its iPhone 16 lineup with a more budget-friendly option. Alongside this launch, the company has quietly removed the iPhone SE from its official store, suggesting a possible discontinuation of its affordable SE series.
iPhone 16e: India Price & Pre-Order Details
The iPhone 16e is priced at ₹59,900 for the base 128GB variant in India. For comparison, the standard iPhone 16 starts at ₹79,900, marking a ₹20,000 price difference between the two models.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e begin on February 21, with deliveries scheduled from February 28. The 256GB variant is priced at ₹69,900, while the 512GB model costs ₹89,900.
New Design & Display
The iPhone 16e features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch, incorporating Apple’s Face ID system for secure authentication. Notably, Apple has replaced the traditional mute switch with an Action Button, allowing users to customize functions such as launching the camera or enabling Do Not Disturb mode. The device also comes with a USB-C port, marking a shift from Apple’s Lightning connectors.
Performance & A18 Chip
At the core of the iPhone 16e is Apple’s powerful A18 chip, delivering up to 80% faster performance compared to the older A13 Bionic found in the iPhone 11. The processor includes a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine, designed for efficient AI and machine learning tasks.
The device also supports Apple Intelligence, an AI-driven suite featuring tools like Genmoji, Writing Tools, and ChatGPT integration.
Camera Capabilities
The iPhone 16e is equipped with a single 48MP Fusion rear camera, capable of capturing high-resolution images with 2x Telephoto zoom. By default, the device shoots 24MP photos, but users can switch to 48MP mode for more detail. Additional camera features include Portrait Mode, Night Mode, and HDR.
For selfies and video calls, the 12MP TrueDepth front camera includes autofocus and 4K video recording at up to 60 frames per second with Dolby Vision support.
Battery & Connectivity Features
Apple claims the iPhone 16e offers up to 26 hours of video playback. The device supports wireless charging and introduces satellite connectivity features like Messages via Satellite and Emergency SOS, enhancing communication in areas with limited cellular coverage. It also includes Crash Detection, which can alert emergency services in case of a severe accident. However, Apple has not confirmed if these emergency features will be available in India.