Apple Unveils iPhone 16e with Apple Intelligence for $599

Apple has updated its SE smartphone line, rebranding it. The iPhone 16e is priced at $599 and offers AI features through Apple Intelligence.

The iPhone 16e joins an exclusive group of smartphones alongside other iPhone 16 models and the iPhone 15 Pro, all supporting Apple Intelligence. The device is equipped with the A18 processor, similar to the flagship models of the 16 series.

Apple’s artificial intelligence includes compact models capable of operating locally on the device, providing text summaries, writing emails, generating images, and accessing ChatGPT via Siri for free and without an OpenAI account.

In the iPhone 16e, Touch ID has been replaced by Face ID, and the Lightning port has been swapped for USB-C.

The new phone is the first to feature the Apple C1 modem for 5G connectivity. The company continues to reduce its reliance on other chip manufacturers.

The fourth SE line is equipped with a 6.1-inch OLED display and “the best battery life in the history of 6.1-inch iPhones.” The previous model had a 4.8-inch screen. The refresh rate remains at 60 Hz.

The high battery life is attributed to the use of a six-core processor. It also employs a 16-core neural engine for processing AI requests and a four-core GPU. A single 48-megapixel camera with 2x zoom is mounted on the rear panel.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e open on February 21, with sales starting a week later.

In October 2024, Apple introduced iOS 18.1 with AI feature support to the public.

In December, the corporation released an update, adding ChatGPT support to the Siri voice assistant and other AI-based tools.