The iPhone 16e introduces a whole new class of affordable iPhone, much like the iPhone SE and iPhone 5c did in the past. But, previous cheap iPhone models were simply less expensive and feature-packed compared to their flagship alternatives. The 16e is much more than that, boasting better battery life than the iPhone 16, similar power, and an almost identical display and design.
Some serious concessions were made to keep the iPhone 16e at AU$999, though. It has just a single rear camera (which may be returning on the iPhone 17 Air), limited colour options and no MagSafe charging. It also re-introduces the display notch we thought died with the iPhone 14. Small prices to pay when it's AU$400 cheaper than the 16.
However, the imminent arrival of the iPhone 17 series has hit the iPhone 15 with heavy price-cuts that had us convinced it was the budget iPhone to buy. However, we think the iPhone 16e is the best cheap iPhone thanks to its superior battery and Apple Intelligence features.
That's especially true now that we've seen it available outright for AU$888 from Amazon and The Good Guys. Grabbing it at that price and combining it with one of the best SIM-only plans is a great option. However, paying it off in instalments with one of the best phone plans will be more attractive to many. Below, you'll find the two best iPhone 16e plans for those chasing the lowest price or a large monthly data pool.
More of the best iPhone 16 plans
- Best iPhone 15 plans
- Best iPhone 15 Plus plans
- Best iPhone 15 Pro plans
- Best iPhone 16 plans
- Best iPhone 16 Plus plans
- Best iPhone 16 Pro plans
- Best iPhone 16 Pro Max plans
Best iPhone 16e plan: our pick
Best premium iPhone 16e plan: our pick
Compare iPhone 16e telco plans
Want to know what our best plans above were competing against? If you’re curious about what’s available from all the major carriers, here’s a look at what you’ll be paying each month for the iPhone 16e with 128GB of storage on a 24-month contract.
Outright iPhone 16e deals
Keen to buy outright? Here’s where you can find the iPhone 16e:
While we're still musing about what the 'e' in iPhone 16e actually means, we know practically everything there is to know about the iPhone 16e. In fact, we've even spent significant amount of time with it. You can check out our iPhone 16e review to see our full thoughts, or read on to learn more.
Interested in upgrading to what we were sure was going to be the iPhone SE 4? Here's everything you need to know about the iPhone 16e, how it differs to its iPhone 16 family, and whether it's the right iPhone for you.
The iPhone 16e is basically this generation's iPhone SE, but its AU$999 price point is much more expensive than the AU$719 launch price of the iPhone SE 2022. In fact, it's a lot closer in price to what you'll find an iPhone 14 for in 2025 – so it comes as no surprise that the iPhone 14 has been discontinued by Apple at the same time.
Now, if the 6.1-inch display of the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 is smaller than you're willing to go for, the cheapest iPhone you can buy with a large display, from Apple at least, is the AU$1,399 iPhone 15 Plus.
Crucially, and what makes it capable of powering Apple Intelligence when even the iPhone 15 cannot, is that the iPhone 16e sports the same 3-nanometer A18 processor boasted by the iPhone 16. It also steals the iPhone 16's Action Button, along with being able to run Visual Intelligence – letting you point the camera at animals, plants, restaurants and even event flyers to get information.
That's about where the similarities between the mainline family and its affordable sibling end. And the price difference is most obvious in the 16e's camera offerings, with just a singular 48MP camera that shoots at 24MP by default (and up to 4K 60fps video), compared to the iPhone 16 dual array of the iPhone 16.
One positive is the 16e's Super Retina XDR display, which is nice to have at an affordable price point. However, for many users, this screen is quickly tarnished by the notch featuring a 12MP TrueDepth camera, as opposed to the Dynamic Island feature introduced by the iPhone 14 Pro. It does, however, enable Face ID.
On top of that, the iPhone 16e boasts a notable technological update – Apple's C1 chip, its first homegrown cellular modem. We don't know much about it, but Apple claims its added power efficiency provides up to 26 hours of video playback on a single charge – four hours more than the iPhone 16.
As for its build, Apple has armoured the display with a ceramic shield and the device itself is made with pace-grade aluminium, and it also offers an IP68 rating that matches the durability of the entire iPhone 16 family.
What's new?
While it might not be the iPhone SE 4 we thought it was going to be (well, not explicitly), there are a few key things to know about the all-new iPhone 16e.
- AU$999 starting price
- Apple's C1 chip, its first homegrown cellular modem
- Action Button programmable to run Visual Intelligence
- 2-in-1 fusion 48MP camera
iPhone 16e: specs comparison
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | iPhone 16e | iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Pro |
Starting price | AU$999 | AU$1,249 | AU$1,399 | AU$1,799 |
Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.80mm | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.80mm | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm | 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25mm |
Weight | 167g | 171g | 170g | 199g |
Display | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.3-inch OLED |
Resolution | 2532 x 1170 pixels | 2556 x 1179 pixels | 2556 x 1179 pixels | 2622 x 1206 pixels |
Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | 60Hz | Adaptive 1-120Hz |
Chip | A18 | A16 | A18 | A18 Pro |
Rear cameras | 48MP fusion | 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide | 48MP main,12MP ultra-wide | 48MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom |
Front camera | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP |
Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
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