Apple unveils iPhone 16e: A powerhouse with AI, cutting-edge performance, and affordability; check features, price, India availability

Apple iPhone 16e: Apple has finally unveiled the much-awaited iPhone 16e, an addition to the iPhone 16 lineup that combines cutting-edge technology with affordability.

The phone comes equipped with Apple’s latest A18 chip and the new Apple-designed C1 modem. The iPhone 16e promises smooth performance, extended battery life, and enhanced AI capabilities through Apple Intelligence. The device will be available for pre-orders starting February 21, with sales beginning on February 28.

Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, described the iPhone 16e as “a powerful, more affordable option to bring the iPhone experience to even more people.” She highlighted key features, including its “breakthrough battery life, fast performance, and an innovative 2-in-1 camera system.”

When it comes to India, the iPhone 16e will be available in in white and black colours and in variants with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities, starting at Rs 59,900.

Durability and Display

Built to last, the iPhone 16e boasts an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, ensuring durability against the elements. It features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, providing vibrant visuals ideal for streaming, gaming, and reading. The device also integrates the Ceramic Shield front cover, claimed to be tougher than any other smartphone glass, making it a resilient choice for users on the go.

Apple has also improved battery life significantly, stating that the iPhone 16e lasts up to six hours longer than the iPhone 11 and up to 12 hours longer than previous generations of the iPhone SE. Charging is made more convenient with both wireless charging support and a USB-C port.

Performance and Connectivity

Powered by the A18 chip, the iPhone 16e delivers an 80% faster CPU performance than the iPhone 11’s A13 Bionic chip, enabling seamless multitasking and enhanced gaming experiences. As per Apple's statement, the 4-core GPU supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, making high-end mobile gaming more immersive than ever. The Neural Engine, with its 16-core design, enhances AI-driven tasks, accelerating machine learning models by up to six times compared to previous chips.

For connectivity, Apple has introduced its first in-house cellular modem, the C1, which ensures faster, more reliable 5G performance while maintaining power efficiency. The integration of Apple silicon with iOS 18’s power management system further contributes to the phone’s extended battery life.

AI and Apple Intelligence

The iPhone 16e is built to harness the power of Apple Intelligence, Apple’s advanced AI system. With features like Clean Up for removing distractions from photos and natural language search in the Photos app, the device makes everyday tasks more intuitive. Users can create personalized emojis with Genmoji, enhance their writing with Writing Tools, and enjoy a more conversational Siri, capable of maintaining context across multiple requests.

Siri now also offers seamless integration with ChatGPT, allowing users to access AI-generated assistance without switching between apps. Apple has emphasized privacy, stating that user data will not be stored by OpenAI, and IP addresses will remain obscured. Users can enable or disable ChatGPT integration at their discretion.

Camera Innovations

Apple said that the phone comes equipped with an 48MP Fusion camera system, which uses computational photography to capture highly detailed images. The integrated 2x Telephoto lens allows users to zoom in with optical quality, providing the equivalent of two cameras in one.

The front-facing TrueDepth camera ensures sharper selfies and improved group photos.

For videography, the iPhone 16e records in 4K Dolby Vision at 60 fps and introduces Spatial Audio recording for immersive sound. Users can adjust audio post-capture to refine voices, enhance environmental sounds, or simulate professional studio-quality recording.

Satellite and Safety Features

As per Apple, the iPhone 16e allows users to send Messages via satellite, contact emergency services with SOS, and even share locations through the Find My app when outside cellular or Wi-Fi range. The device also features Crash Detection, which can automatically alert emergency responders in the event of a severe car accident.

iOS 18 and Customization

The iPhone 16e runs on iOS 18, offering a more personalized experience than ever. Users can now customize their Home Screen with dark or tinted themes, rearrange app layouts, and modify Control Center for quick access to essential features. Messaging also gets a boost with RCS support, enabling richer media sharing and more reliable group chats.

A More Accessible iPhone Experience

Apple has also introduced the Action Button, a customizable shortcut that allows users to quickly access features such as the camera, flashlight, Shazam, Voice Memos, and more. The button also powers a new visual intelligence tool that can identify objects, translate text, and provide contextual information using AI.