iPhone 16E to Debut Wednesday? Apple's Budget iPhone May Get a New Name

[wanha]

Naming it 16E implies that this phone will move to a yearly update schedule.

The alternative is going from 16E to 19E (or whatever the number happens to be at the time) and that's just nonsensical.

That said, the way things are going so far in 2025, it could happen 😅

 

[xmarcuswildx]

Wait… you put an OLED screen in this crap but you can’t put it on an iPad mini because it’s a “pro feature.”

Smh. Typical apple.

 

[HMFIC03]

16E to me only makes sense if it is to reduce confusion and be on a near annual update. That said, it would not be wise for apple IMO to update a budget phone annually when the evolution of phone tech is slowing down every more and more each year. SE4 is the logical choice to show version succession.

 

[Basic75]

The A18 chip inclusion in particular is a major departure from previous SE models, which typically recycled older iPhone designs and technology.

MacRumors can't even get the basics right.

The first iPhone SE had the latest and greatest A9 chip.

The second iPhone SE had the latest and greatest A13 chip.

The third iPhone SE had the latest and greatest A15 chip.

 

[iZac]

16 F baby and the F is for fenomenal

16E? 16F? - ya'll are crazy, it's the 16A and the A is for 'Aconomical'

 

[Zdigital2015]

iPhone 16 E makes perfect sense. The E is for “effordable”.

Economical, try to keep up! /s

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's real simple

They want to be able to have a "normal customer" come into a store (Apple or Carrier) and get "the latest iPhone 16 from Apple"

And then the flow is:

Show them the options and they choose between the "E, Regular, Pro, Pro Max"

"All iPhone 16" ... just pick your differences

No compromises***


Just preferences and price points

It's as simple as that

"SE" branding was very likely a turn off to folks who suck up the advertising and want "the latest iPhone"
(to continue the mindless scrolling, per normal)

 

[TallManNY]

Yes in the past there was a much bigger market for larger phones but, now that almost all of the manufacturers only make only phablets, I believe that sales would be good for a smaller phone with the latest tech.

Apple may not do it but, calling the phone 16E leaves room for making a true smaller SE. (rather than calling it SE 4 mini or SE 5).

How do you have this belief after the poor sales of the mini 12 and mini 13? Now don't get me wrong, I like small phones and had the mini 12 as my daily until getting the 15Pro when it got released. But I can't ignore reality that the small phones didn't sell in large numbers.

 

[Jovijoker]

It's real simple

They want to be able to have a "normal customer" come into a store (Apple or Carrier) and get "the latest iPhone 16 from Apple"

And then the flow is:

Show them the options and they choose between the "E, Regular, Pro, Pro Max"

"All iPhone 16" ... just pick your differences

No compromises***


Just preferences and price points

It's as simple as that

"SE" branding was very likely a turn off to folks who suck up the advertising and want "the latest iPhone"
(to continue the mindless scrolling, per normal)

I agree. Good marketing.

 

[ksec]

Why not make the E as part of the usual line up.

$999 iPhone 16 Pro

$799 iPhone 16

$499 iPhone 16E

 

[titanium69]

The Iphone 16se is a perfect name - Iphone 16 Slow'n'Expensive

 

[turbineseaplane]

Why not make the E as part of the usual line up.

$999 iPhone 16 Pro

$799 iPhone 16

$499 iPhone 16E

That's exactly the plan I think

The "Profit" model
a Normal model
and a chEap model

 

[0049190]

Renaming it iPhone 16E could imply they are planning to update it more often, maybe annually.

 

[balupton]

iPhone 16 Slim

 

[azentropy]

Probably a marketing move so that folks can say "oh yeah, I have a 16" (or w/e the current number happens to be)

Makes people feel "current" and "keeping up with the Joneses"

(I'm being serious ... consumers are often that vain and fickle)

Right, but that then only works for ~7 months until the 17 comes out then you have the opposite effect. So that is back to my original point of that would really only work if they plan on upgrading the "SE" each year.

 

[0049190]

..

 

[turbineseaplane]

Right, but that then only works for ~7 months until the 17 comes out then you have the opposite effect. So that is back to my original point of that would really only work if they plan on upgrading the "SE" each year.

Sorry, I should have been more clear -- I agree with you -- I think the "E" will now be a yearly thing tied in with the iPhone release #

 

[Plutonius]

How do you have this belief after the poor sales of the mini 12 and mini 13? Now don't get me wrong, I like small phones and had the mini 12 as my daily until getting the 15Pro when it got released. But I can't ignore reality that the small phones didn't sell in large numbers.

But now that none of the major phone makers make a smaller phone, I think that the sales would be there.

 

[ray6088]

16E? As in we're going to get 16 posts about it Every single day until it's unveiled on the 19th!?

Minor color changes then it's called 17E and 18E. Apple did it before for 13 to 14.

 

[rufwork]

"The A18 chip inclusion in particular is a major departure from previous SE models..."

? Every iPhone SE has had the latest chip.

That statement (in the article; you’re right on the money) was so patently wrong the only way it makes any sense is if they were trying to driving engagement.

Having the latest chip only six months later for half the price is exactly why the SE is an insta-buy when it’s released for the budget-conscious but still bleeding-edgers.

Though I’ll admit I also prefer Touch ID. Might have to try this one out for a week and hang onto the receipt…

 

[ray6088]

It's smart to be called 16E, then it's called 17E next year maybe very minor changes. It's up to Apple to update CPU in 2 or 3 years cycles.

 

[rufwork]

But now that none of the major phone makers make a smaller phone, I think that the sales would be there.

If so, seems like https://smallandroidphone.com/ would’ve gotten more traction.

Maybe you argue that iOS users are more likely to want a small phone. I probably agree, but it feels like the mini experiment proved there are dozens of us. Dozens.

 

[Razorpit]

completely unfounded rumour: I heard its the 16C

You misheard. It is the "Z". As in 😴....

 

[throAU]

Though I’ll admit I also prefer Touch ID. Might have to try this one out for a week and hang onto the receipt…

I was a touchID holdout until I used faceID with my iPhone 13 mini. Then it made me regret getting the iPad Air instead of the pro and dealing with touchid instead of having the machine just unlock when I look at it.

 

[Razorpit]

It's smart to be called 16E, then it's called 17E next year maybe very minor changes. It's up to Apple to update CPU in 2 or 3 years cycles.

Could be, with minor changes every year you could sell a whole new generation of cases. 🤔

Tim Apple approves! 💰