Best iPhone 16e plans in Australia (June 2025)

It might not be the long-rumoured iPhone SE 4, but the iPhone 16e introduces a whole new class of affordable iPhone. While previous SE models were simply cheaper, less feature-packed alternatives to their flagship counterparts, the same cannot be said for the 16e. It boasts a better battery life, similar performance, and an almost identical build and display (though the 16 is much brighter).

The biggest concessions made to keep the price of the iPhone 16e break down to a less versatile single rear camera, limited colour options, the return of the display notch (over the Dynamic Island) and no MagSafe charging. A small price to pay for a AU$400 cheaper device. Truly, the real competitor to the 16e is the iPhone 15. In fact, I was convinced a discounted iPhone 15 was the best ‘budget’ iPhone to buy in 2025, but the iPhone 16e quickly proved itself as the best cheap iPhone for Apple loyalists thanks to longer-lasting battery and Apple Intelligence.

Buying it outright from Amazon, Apple or JB Hi-Fi and pairing it with one of our best SIM-only plans is the cheaper option, and it could become more attractive with the possibility of iPhone 16e discounts during Apple EOFY sales. However, it's still expensive – so paying it off in instalments with one of the best phone plans will be more attractive to many. Whatever your preference is, we've got you covered right here.

You'll find the two best iPhone 16e plans below – accounting for different users and budgets – plus the best outright deals available right now.

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

Apple iPhone 16e | Vodafone Small Plan | 100GB data | 24 months | AU$80.62 (for 12 months, then AU$90.62)

The iPhone 16e is a brilliant phone that gives you a true flagship iPhone experience for a reasonable price. Pairing it with the Vodafone's small plan, which is currently being offered with double data across the entirety of the contract and a AU$10 discount over the first 12 months, makes this deal all the better. On top of this excellent data and price balance, this plan also offers 5G connectivity and unlimited international texts.

Total cost over 24 months is AU$2,054.88

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Best premium iPhone 16e plan: our pick

Apple iPhone 16e | Vodafone Medium Plan | 360GB data | 24 months | AU$90.62 (for 12 months, then AU$100.62)

The Vodafone Medium Plan also gets its data doubled across the plan’s lifetime at a discounted price for the first 12 months – giving you a whopping 360GB of data for just AU$49 p/m. This makes it an easy choice for those looking to spend the money they save by opting for the iPhone 16e on more monthly data. Spending more for this plan doesn't just offer more data, as you'll also get unlimited international calls and 5G connectivity.

Total cost over 24 months is AU$2,294.88

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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:

• Amazon
• Apple
• JB Hi-Fi
• Optus
• Telstra
• The Good Guys

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