Apple rolls out iPhone 16e with AI at $599

During the awaited February 19 Apple event, Apple announced the release of the new AI-powered iPhone 16e with a base price of $599. The iPhone 16e is the fourth generation of Apple’s rebranded iPhone SE model. 

The iPhone 16e will run Apple Intelligence through the powerful A18 processor. The A18 is an Apple-made processor capable of running small LLMs locally. It is the company’s flagship chip and is installed across the iPhone 16 line. 

Apple’s iPhone 16e has ChatGPT for free

The iPhone 16e will allow users to use ChatGPT through Siri at zero cost without having an OpenAI account.

In terms of hardware, the new 16e has no touch ID/home button and relies on Face ID only. The smartphone will no longer have a Lightning port; instead, it will come with a USB-C port, just like the company’s latest iPhones and Mac devices.

The budget phone has a powerful battery that lasts a maximum of 12 hours, offering more battery life compared to older SE devices. The 16e iPhone rocks a 6.1-inch OLED display and includes Apple’s first-made modem named the Apple C1.

The iPhone SE line was initially launched in 2016 and has achieved strong sales for Apple in many countries, including India and China. However, the SE was not regularly included in Apple’s annual iPhone releases and was only released in 2020, 2022, and 2025. 

Even though the iPhone 16e has a higher price tag by $100 compared to its predecessors, the lower price point will help Apple recoup more profits after the massive success of its M4 Mac Mini.

The iPhone 16e will be available for pre-orders on Friday, February 21, and will begin shipping by February 28.

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