After months of rumours and speculation, Apple has finally unveiled the latest addition to its iPhone SE lineup, but now rebranded as the iPhone 16e.
The iPhone 16e takes design cues from the iPhone 14, featuring a notch and Face ID instead of the Dynamic Island design seen on Apple’s latest flagship models.
It sports a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 1170 x 2532, though it retains a 60Hz refresh rate. The screen is protected by Apple’s Ceramic Shield technology for added durability.
One notable addition is the customisable Action Button, a feature borrowed from the iPhone 16 series. However, the 16e lacks the new Camera Control found on its higher-end siblings. It also makes the switch from Lightning to USB-C.
Under the hood, the iPhone 16e is powered by Apple’s A18 chip, but with a 4-core GPU instead of the 5-core found on iPhone 16, and features a 48MP “2-in-1 camera system”. While it’s technically a single camera, Apple claims it can achieve lossless 2x zoom. For selfies, there’s a 12MP front-facing camera.
The device also supports the full suite of Apple Intelligence features, bringing it in line with the rest of the iPhone 16 family.
A major highlight is the inclusion of Apple’s first in-house developed modem, the C1, replacing Qualcomm’s modem. If the C1 performs well, it could pave the way for its adoption in future iPhones, potentially starting with the iPhone 17 series.
The C1 modem supports satellite connectivity, enabling features like Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via Satellite.
However, the iPhone 16e does have some limitations. It lacks support for MagSafe accessories and fast wireless charging, capping wireless charging speeds at 7.5W via Qi wireless charging. It does, however, come with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
Pricing and Availability
The iPhone 16e will be available in white and black in three storage sizes:
128GB – RM2,999
256GB – RM3,499
512GB – RM4,499
Apple has announced that pre-orders will begin at 9pm on 21 February, with the official release set for 28 February.