iPhone 16e: Filling the iPhone SE's Shoes Is Much Harder Despite Apple Intelligence Feature

Say what you will about the iPhone SE lineup, but it was once one of the top anticipated devices of 2023 to 2024, particularly as Apple made no references to it for two whole years. However, the announcement for Apple's midrange smartphone earlier this year was nothing short of surprising as the company dropped the "SE" branding and delivered the iPhone 16e, touting its Apple Intelligence eligibility.

While many have welcomed the iPhone 16e as the next midrange smartphone from Apple, many have mulled over what could have been the iPhone SE 4, particularly as the new budget device had everything rumored for the next generation of the retired lineup.

iPhone 16e Brings Apple Intelligence to the Midrange

There is no denying that the Apple Intelligence technology is a massive addition to Apple's eligible devices, and the company made sure that this is available for the iPhone 16e when they released it earlier this year. It is important to note that Apple Intelligence is limited in availability among iPhones and other devices as only select processors were given eligibility when it arrived.

First impressions for the iPhone 16e were positive, particularly as it was given the modern iPhone design and layout that ultimately removed the Home Button and the large bezels, especially the one at the top which housed the front-facing camera and the handset speaker.

Moreover, as expected from a midrange device, it only featured a single rear camera lens and it did not get the Dynamic Island. Instead, it received the notch which was last seen on the iPhone 14's base versions.

Apple Intelligence's latest features include the Visual Playground, Writing Tools, Upgraded Siri, Siri + ChatGPT, Genmoji, and more, with these features made available to the iPhone 16e. The new budget smartphone from Apple is also set to receive future updates from the Cupertino-based tech giant for its Apple Intelligence developments.

Overall, this already sounds like a powerful midrange smartphone on paper, but there were complaints about the device when it was made available in the market.

Can the iPhone 16e Fill In the iPhone SE's Shoes?

Reviews were quick to compare the iPhone 16e to the iPhone SEs of the past, and since its release until now, this is still the conversation being discussed by users and analysts as Apple's midrange devices are part of a thin list.

While users were given a 6.1-inch OLED display instead of a 4.7-inch LCD, a seamless design, a flat-edged body in an aluminum frame, the Action Button instead of the slider, a 48MP 2-in-1 camera instead of the 12MP, and other notable changes, the longing for the iPhone SE remains.

Effectively, the iPhone 16e canceled out the SE variant for the time being, with the new device featuring the latest A18 chips found in the iPhone 16 series.

Users noted that the pricing is so far apart as previously, many could buy the iPhone SE for only $429, but now, the iPhone 16e's cheapest version is at $599. This is a hefty price difference, especially for users who only want an iPhone without the frills.

Moreover, the iPhone 16e has improved battery life with 26 hours of video playback compared to the SE 2022's 15 hours, all because of the C1 5G modem that Apple designed.

The iPhone 16e also came with Emergency SOS and satellite connectivity, which are a massive plus for when going outdoors.

While many will remain to be nostalgic about the SE brand, the iPhone 16e is still a remarkable device for users who want to save as much as $100 compared to the iPhone 16's base model.