Apple launches iPhone 16e: Price, release date, what to know about cheaper smartphone option

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Apple has officially welcomed the "newest member" of its family: the iPhone 16e.

Apple announced the fourth edition of the budget-friendly iPhone on Wednesday. The iPhone 16e will be larger, utilize Face ID, feature a USB-C charging port and include a 48-megapixel camera lens. The new smartphone also debuts Apple's first cellular modem.

CEO Tim Cook initially teased that the tech giant would be unveiling a new device last week, telling followers to "get ready to meet the newest member of the family."

Here's what we know about the iPhone 16e:

When is the iPhone 16e available for pre-order? When does it release in stores?

The new smartphone will be available for pre-order Friday and in stores Feb. 28.

Which colors are available?

The new device will come in matte black and matte white. iPhone 16e silicone cases, from Apple, will come in winter blue, fuchsia, lake green, black and white.

iPhone 16e price

The new iPhone 16e is $599, according to an Apple news release.

With Apple's trade-in policy, customers can get up to $120 in credit when they trade an iPhone 11 or up to $170 when they trade in an iPhone 12, according to the news release.

What's the difference between an iPhone and iPhone SE?

Apple released the first generation of iPhone SE in 2016. The budget-friendly series tends to be a bit behind the regular iPhone in terms of new features. But the cost difference is significant. For comparison, a new iPhone 16 with the lowest amount of storage available costs $799 compared with the iPhone 16e at $599.

Welcome Apple C1

The iPhone 16e is the first product to feature Apple C1, Apple's first cellular modem, the company said. The modem is designed to deliver 5G connectivity.

Upgraded design and larger display

The iPhone 16e features a 6.1-inch super-retina OLED display, officially leaving LCD screens behind.

The new smartphone also features an all-display design with a notch − the small black area at the top of the screen that houses the front camera, top speaker and Face ID technology. Earlier editions of the iPhone SE, in addition to older iPhone models, featured bezels, a frame around the screen.

Goodbye touch ID, hello face ID

The iPhone 16e says goodbye to Apple's touch ID, which allows users to unlock their phones with a fingerprint. The new smartphone features Apple's face ID, allowing users to unlock their phones with facial recognition.

Improved camera

Though the iPhone 16e features only one rear camera, it is upgraded to 48 megapixels, compared with the 12-megapixel camera on the iPhone SE 3. A 2x telephoto is also integrated, in addition to night and portrait modes.

The smartphone is capable of capturing videos in 4K up to 60 frames per second and uses spatial audio.

New exterior action button

A new exterior action button on the side of the iPhone 16e allows users to access a variety of tools and options with a click. The button is customizable in the settings app, allowing users to open their camera or flashlight. The action button also allows users to switch between ring and silent and activate Voice Memos, Focus, Translate, Magnifier and Shazam.

Updated charging port

The iPhone 16e features, like newer iPhone models, a USB-C charging port in comparison to Apple's older Lightning port. This is legally required because of European Union legislation.

Apple Intelligence features

Here are several Apple Intelligence features included with the iPhone 16e:

• Cleanup tool: Remove elements from images in the Photos app.
• Natural language search: Search for photos and videos in the Photos app with a description.
• Image Playground: Create photos from descriptions, concepts or people from Photos app.
• Genmoji: Create custom emojis.
• Updated Siri: Type messages to Siri, which is also able to understand users when they stumble over words.

ChatGPT is also integrated into the new smartphone's Writing Tools and Siri for free.

What about the inside?

The iPhone 16e is compatible with iOS 18, Apple's latest software update.

According to an Apple news release, the iPhone 16's battery life is the best on a 6.1-inch iPhone, lasting up to six hours longer than the battery in the iPhone 11 and 12 hours longer than all iPhone SE generations.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at Paste BN. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.