Apple's Cheapest iPhone Now Starts at $599

[MacRumors]

Ahead of the launch of the iPhone 16e, rumors suggested that Apple would target a price point at or below $500 to stay within the range of prior low-cost iPhone options and to encourage sales, but Apple opted for a higher starting cost.

The iPhone 16e is priced starting at $599 for 128GB of storage, and it is now Apple's cheapest iPhone option, even in countries like India where more affordable iPhones often sell well.

The now-discontinued iPhone SE started at $429, so it has become $170 more expensive to get an entry-level iPhone.

Apple raised the price of the iPhone 16e because it has a modern design, more expensive A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, an Action Button, Face ID, and a higher starting storage. The increase in cost will improve Apple's average iPhone selling price, but it could put the device out of range of some customers.

Here is Apple's new pricing lineup, with the iPhone 16e included:

• iPhone 16e - Starting at $599
• iPhone 15 - Starting at $699
• iPhone 15 Plus - Starting at $799
• iPhone 16 - Starting at $799
• iPhone 16 Plus - Starting at $899
• iPhone 16 Pro - Starting at $999
• iPhone 16 Pro Max - Starting at $1,199

The iPhone 16e is available for pre-order on Friday, with a launch to follow on February 28.

Article Link: Apple's Cheapest iPhone Now Starts at $599

 

[turbineseaplane]

Cheap is the right word

$100 $170 price hike from the SE and no MagSafe on a brand new model in 2025...

A new low for Tim

Also, compared to the SE3, it's heavier, taller, wider and thicker


(edited price hike # - thank you @Electroni )

 

[Harlandos]

Well, no - they sell others in the refurb store. Plenty of good iPhones at better value too.

 

[oofio2461]

all of these minimal changes makes it the iphone xrssssss at this point with all of the cost cutting they did. at least it didn't come with 64gb of storage...

 

[iPay]

Apple raised the price of the iPhone 16e because it has a modern design, more expensive A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, an Action Button, Face ID, and a higher starting storage.

Or just because $$$

 

[Electroni]

Cheap is the right word

$100 price hike from the SE and no MagSafe on a brand new model in 2025...

A new low for Tim

Also, compared to the SE3, it's heavier, taller, wider and thicker

Actually, it’s a $170 over the previous base “budget” model. That’s a 40% increase. Ridiculous doesn’t begin to describe it.

 

[Oestreich Dieter]

And their stock price keeps climbing year after year. Apparently consumers dont actually care in large enough numbers.

 

[CaféPicasso]

"e" for embarrassing
I mean 599,00.. really?
I'm sorry for anyone who buys this

 

[0423MAC]

Not great, but not all that surprising tbh.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Actually, it’s a $170 over the previous base “budget” model. That’s a 40% increase. Ridiculous doesn’t begin to describe it.

Thank you - corrected

 

[Unregistered 4U]

but it could put the device out of range of some customers.

It specifically puts the device out of the range of customers that don’t want to spend that much for an iPhone.

 

[d5aqoëp]

This is an extremely poor choice compared to regular 16 which has "far superior" Qualcomm modem and just better all-round specs. The display is also junk tier slow-motion 60hz. Here in India, the regular 16 is many times offered for same price as 16E with various discounts. For me this is a "product launch pricing" fail !

 

[Bill Anon]

In the UK it's priced at £599, which is roughly $750, not $600.

I was intending to buy one at release, but not when I'm paying an extra $150 for it.

 

[Kay_Ess]

Boooo!!!
Oh wait, they can’t hear me and wouldn’t care if they did.
This is what you get when your CEO is worth 2.5 billion……🤪

 

[jonnyb098]

First off....inflation.

Second, it's a really solid phone for the price. It's basically an iPhone 16 minus the Dynamic Island and the Ultrawide camera no one uses.

Third, time for boomers to upgrade their iPhone 7, they can afford it!

 

[sw1tcher]

Cheap is the right word

$100 price hike from the SE and no MagSafe on a brand new model in 2025...

A new low for Tim

It's $170 more than the iPhone SE 3.

iPhone SE 3 starting price = $429
iPhone 16e starting price = $599

But you're also getting more. iPhone SE 3 was 64GB while 16e is 128GB. Then there's the doubling of RAM from 4GB (iPhone SE 3) to 8GB, larger display, A18 chip, etc.

Since a lot of people do monthly device payments, I suspect most people will choose the base iPhone 16 over this 16e. The base iPhone 16e is $24.95/mo while the base iPhone 16 is $33.29/mo. $8.34/mo more.

Also, compared to the SE3, it's heavier, taller, wider and thicker

Not by that much. I can't really tell the difference between my SE 3 and 14. The most notable is the weight difference.

 

[deaglecat]

hard pass for me.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Not by that much. I can't really tell the difference between my SE 3 and 14

Totally disagree -- if concerned about size/weight, these are big jumps

 

[jonnyb098]

Cheap is the right word

$100 $170 price hike from the SE and no MagSafe on a brand new model in 2025...

A new low for Tim

Also, compared to the SE3, it's heavier, taller, wider and thicker


(edited price hike # - thank you @Electroni )

The boomers who buy these don't even know what MagSafe is. That's why it's not included.

 

[macbookj0e]

Seems they prefer profit margins vs gaining new customers. I find that surprising considering the revenue from services they’ll be limiting.

 

[kevinws]

Very disappointed I will hold on to my 12 a bit longer. It does everything I need I am just a simple dude.

 

[Sebosz]

Im assuming getting rid of MagSafe allowed them to use bigger battery. Notice that according to apple it lasts as long as iPhone 15/16 Plus, which is quite impressive.

 

[Getabeard80]

Love it. Stops the poor from buying them.

 

[Getabeard80]

The boomers who buy these don't even know what MagSafe is. That's why it's not included.

Not true

 

[JPack]

This is a $499 iPhone with 64GB. Apple just clicked on the 128GB storage upgrade option for everyone.

Kinda sad that Apple still doesn't believe 128GB should be base. The reason is margins.