The iPhone SE is no more. Apple has dropped the name, likely to avoid positioning it as a budget-tier model. In its place, there’s now the iPhone 16e, a new addition to the iPhone 16 lineup.
We do not know what the ‘e’ stands for, but let’s get some basics out of the way. First, here’s what Apple has packed into its latest lower-cost iPhone—starting with support for Apple Intelligence.
iPhone 16e: A18 chip, single rear camera, Apple’s first in-house modem
It has Apple’s AI features, which the iPhone 14 lacks, so that alone might justify picking this device over the iPhone 14, which it closely resembles.
But there’s a tradeoff: only one rear camera, a clear visual marker that this is still the lower-end iPhone.
READ MORE: iPhone 16e specifications and price in Kenya
Under the hood is Apple’s A18 chip and a 48 MP “2-in-1 camera system”—Apple’s way of describing a single rear camera that can do lossless 2x zoom.
The phone has a 6.1-inch OLED display with Ceramic Shield, which Apple still claims is “the toughest back glass in a smartphone.”
Battery life? Apple says it’s “the best ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone,” a conveniently specific benchmark.
It’s supposedly six hours longer than the iPhone 11 and up to 12 hours longer than any iPhone SE.
Other features include Face ID, USB-C, iOS 18, and the same Apple Intelligence suite found in the rest of the iPhone 16 family. There’s a customizable Action Button, but no Camera Control.
The iPhone 16e also comes with Apple’s first in-house modem, the C1, alongside satellite support for Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My iPhone.
The iPhone 16e will be available in two colours—white and black. Pre-orders start on February 21, with a release date set for February 28. Pricing is as follows:
- 128GB: $599 (approximately KSh77,300)
- 256GB: $699 (approximately KSh90,200)
- 512GB: $899 (approximately KSh116,000)
Please note that these conversions are based on an exchange rate of 1 USD = 129 KES.
Actual prices in Kenya may be slightly higher due to taxes, import duties, and other regional factors.
