Apple’s latest cellphone, the $599 iPhone 16E, breaks with the corporate’s traditional September launch timeline and as an alternative will likely be launched on Friday, Feb. 28. In actual fact, you may preorder the 16E proper now. The brand new iPhone presents a singular enchantment: Get a number of the iPhone 16’s finest options (a 48-megapixel digicam, iOS 18 and an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence) for $200 lower than the $799 iPhone 16. That makes the iPhone 16E principally a scaled-down model of the iPhone 16 that lacks sure options, like MagSafe charging and a second rear digicam to maintain the value low.
However the iPhone 16E is not the one cellphone Apple will launch this yr. We anticipate the iPhone 17 to launch in September. Rumors point out that it’d get a brand new ultra-thin design. In order that begs the query: Must you purchase an iPhone 16E now or wait six months for the iPhone 17?
Sadly, the reply is: it relies upon.
Watch this: The iPhone 16E Has Arrived
iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 17: at this time
The iPhone 16E is supposed to be a barely extra reasonably priced model of the iPhone 16.
The iPhone 16E has the excellence of being Apple’s most reasonably priced cellphone (earlier than provider reductions and offers) regardless of costing $170 greater than the corporate’s earlier low cost cellphone, the iPhone SE from 2022. The 16E is geared toward those that wish to get the most recent least expensive iPhone with all of the Apple perks they anticipate, like an excellent digicam, providers like iMessage and FaceTime, and years’ value of software program upgrades.
The iPhone 16E carries the iPhone SE’s outdated mantle and makes use of elements of outdated iPhones to create an reasonably priced one. For instance, the 16E’s display screen and physique are just like the iPhone 14 and it has the identical processor that the iPhone 16 has. On paper, the 16E is an improve in almost each technique to the final iPhone SE. The iPhone 16E releases on the finish of February. However if you would like the iPhone 17, you are going to have to attend as a result of it does not exist.
Apple hasn’t introduced the iPhone 17, and you may’t preorder it but. The following iPhone is only a bunch of rumors that paint the image of a legendary newer cellphone that is higher than what’s out there now. However the likelihood is excessive that Apple will launch an iPhone 17 in September, half a yr from now. For me, I have never encountered a cellphone that’s value ready six months for, so I would not watch for the 17.
iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 17: September 2025
The iPhone 17 hasn’t been introduced but. On this image, we used an iPhone 16 Professional and put the quantity 17 behind it since there are no images from Apple of its unreleased cellphone.
What is going to the iPhone 17 have that the brand new iPhone 16E does not? I do not know as a result of Apple hasn’t introduced something but.
However we will take a look at a number of the many iPhone 17 rumors and postulate why it might or is probably not value ready six months for. The largest rumor is that Apple may debut a brand new iPhone mannequin with a particularly skinny design, as reported by The Info. Nicknamed the iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim, it might have the same old year-to-year additions, like a brand new processor and new software program, however its fundamental enchantment will doubtless be its new design.
Each cellphone Apple has launched since 2020 has appeared just like the iPhone 12 and had flat sides, aside from the iPhone SE. That very same iPhone 12 design can seen within the iPhone 16 sequence together with the brand new iPhone 16E. And whereas many Apple fanatics need an iPhone with a very new design, there may be logic to Apple preserving what works for its giant base of iPhone customers.
The iPhone 17 Air’s skinny design may have a big 6.6-inch show that slots in-between the 6.1-inch screens on the iPhone 16 and 16 E and the 6.9-inch show on the 16 Professional Max. The iPhone 17 Air can also be anticipated to have Apple’s C1 5G modem, the identical one which debuted within the iPhone 16E in keeping with famous analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
However even when the iPhone 17 had been out at this time, it is meant for a special particular person in contrast with the reasonably priced iPhone 16E.
iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 17: Funds or flagship?
The iPhone 16E is the one cellphone Apple sells that has a single rear digicam.
The true complicating issue between deciding between Apple’s brand-new low cost iPhone and its subsequent unannounced flagship mannequin is simply that: Would you like a budget-version of the iPhone 16? Or would you like one in every of Apple’s costlier premium fashions? And if that’s the case the actual query ought to be would you like an iPhone 16 or watch for an iPhone 17?
Although the one issues we all know in regards to the iPhone 17 sequence are primarily based on rumors, it can doubtless have an everyday base mannequin that begins round $800 and a extra premium Professional mannequin that begins at $1,000. Just like the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 has a special worth proposition and can doubtless be geared toward a special person than the iPhone 16E.
It is also unclear if Apple will launch an reasonably priced model of the iPhone 17 in 2026 — possibly the 17E? The iPhone SE sequence received updates each two to 3 years in contrast with the annual updates that Apple’s flagship line will get.
Purchase a cellphone whenever you want it
The iPhone 16E will little doubt be probably the most reasonably priced technique to get an iPhone earlier than provider reductions and offers.
Finally, in case your present cellphone is damaged or has a cracked display screen and you’ll want to purchase a cellphone now, then accomplish that. Apple’s common iPhone 16 is a tremendous choice and, whereas we’ve not examined the iPhone 16E but, on paper it appears like will probably be a stable finances cellphone for most individuals.
In case you are due for an improve out of your provider, then issues get extra tough. Six months is a very long time to attend, particularly for a cellphone Apple hasn’t even introduced or informed us about. But when your present cellphone is working high quality, maintain onto that improve till September and reevaluate your state of affairs then.
Apple iPhone 16E Specs vs. iPhone 16, iPhone SE (2022), iPhone 15
| Apple iPhone 16E | iPhone 16 | iPhone SE (2022) | iPhone 15 | |
| Show dimension, tech, decision, refresh price | 6.1-inch OLED show; 2,532×1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh price | 6.1-inch OLED show; 2,556×1,179 pixels; 60Hz refresh price | 4.7-inch LCD; 1,334×750 pixels; 60Hz refresh price | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556×1,179 pixels; 60hz refresh price |
| Pixel density | 460ppi | 460ppi | 326ppi | 460ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 5.78×2.82×0.31 | 5.81×2.82×0.31 | 5.45×2.65×0.29 | 2.82×5.81×0.31 |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 146.7×71.5×7.8 | 147.6×71.6×7.8 | 138.4×67.3×7.3 | 71.6×147.6×7.8 |
| Weight | 167 grams (5.88 ounces) | 170g (6oz) | 144g (5.09oz) | 171g (6.02oz) |
| Cellular software program | iOS 18 | iOS 18 | iOS 15 | iOS 17 |
| Digital camera | 48 megapixel (huge) | 48 megapixel (huge), 12 megapixel (ultrawide) | 12 megapixel (huge) | 48 megapixel (huge), 12 megapixel (ultrawide) |
| Entrance-facing digicam | 12 megapixel | 12 megapixel | 7 megapixel | 12 megapixel |
| Video seize | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | Apple A18 | Apple A18 | Apple A15 Bionic | Apple A16 Bionic |
| RAM/storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Expandable storage | None | None | None | None |
| Battery | As much as 26 hours video playback, 21 hours streamed video playback, 90 hours of audio playback. 20W wired charging, 7.5W Qi wi-fi charging | As much as 22 hours video playback; as much as 18 hours video playback (streamed). 20W wired charging. MagSafe wi-fi charging as much as 25W with 30W adapter or larger; Qi2 as much as 15W | Battery dimension not disclosed (charger not included; helps wi-fi charging) | Undisclosed; Apple says as much as 20 hours of video playback (16 hours streamed) |
| Fingerprint sensor | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) | Dwelling button | None (Face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | Lightning | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None | None | None |
| Particular options | Motion button, Apple C1 5G modem, Apple Intelligence, Ceramic Protect, Emergency SOS, satellite tv for pc connectivity, IP68 resistance | Apple Intelligence, Motion button, Digital camera Management button, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2,000 nits show brightness vary, IP68 resistance. Colours: black, white, pink, teal, ultramarine. | 5G-enabled; helps 25W wired quick charging; Water-proof (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wi-fi charging | Dynamic Island; 5G (mmw/Sub6); MagSafe; water-resistant (IP68); wi-fi charging; eSIM; satellite tv for pc connectivity |
| US value begins at | $599 (128GB), $699 (256GB), $899 (512GB) | $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB) | $399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB) | $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB) |
| UK value begins at | £599 (128GB), £699 (256GB), £899 (512GB) | £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB) | £419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB) | £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB) |
| Australia value begins at | AU$999 (128GB), AU$1,199 (256GB), AU$1,549 (512GB) | AU$1,399 (128GB), AU$1,599 (256GB), AU$1,949 (512GB) | AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB) | AU$1,499 (128GB), AU$1,699 (256GB), AU$2,049 (512GB) |