Apple has always been deliberate in how it defines its products. Every model, every branding decision, every slight shift in design serves a larger purpose. For years, the iPhone SE occupied a peculiar space—a nostalgic callback for those who clung to the past, a budget-conscious compromise for those who wanted iOS without the premium price tag. But with the iPhone 16e, Apple has turned the page. This is not an SE in disguise. This is an iPhone 16, and the distinction matters.
For too long, the SE models felt like an afterthought, a way for Apple to repurpose older designs while keeping a foothold in the lower price segment. But the iPhone 16e doesn’t borrow from the past; it moves forward. It drops the home button and chunky bezels in favor of Face ID and an edge-to-edge OLED display. It adopts the A18 chip, the same silicon found in Apple’s latest flagship models. It even introduces the Action Button, a feature that, until recently, was exclusive to the Pro lineup. There’s nothing “Special Edition” about it—it’s simply a streamlined, more affordable entry into Apple’s latest ecosystem.
Battery life is a prime example of how Apple has shifted its approach. No SE model before this could boast 26 hours of video playback. In the past, choosing an SE meant accepting trade-offs: shorter battery life, an aging design, limited camera capabilities. But the iPhone 16e flips that narrative. It is built with longevity in mind, ensuring that even at a lower price point, users get a device that lasts all day and well into the next.
Then there’s Apple Intelligence, the company’s ambitious foray into on-device AI. Previously thought to be exclusive to Pro models, it is now baked into the iPhone 16e. Features like Genmoji, AI-powered photo editing, and context-aware Writing Tools aren’t reserved for the most expensive iPhones anymore. This isn’t a budget phone with a few modern touches—it’s a genuine part of Apple’s current vision for the iPhone.
By discontinuing the iPhone SE and the iPhone 14, Apple is making a clear statement. The iPhone lineup is no longer fragmented into “budget” and “flagship” categories. Instead, it’s unified. Whether you choose the iPhone 16e, the iPhone 16, or the Pro models, you’re getting a device built on the same foundation, not a relic of past designs repackaged to fit a lower price point.
This is what makes the iPhone 16e different from any SE model before it. It’s not a concession to nostalgia, nor is it a stripped-down version of what an iPhone should be. It’s a modern, capable device that fully belongs in Apple’s current lineup. And in doing so, Apple is redefining what an entry-level iPhone means—not a compromise, but an invitation into the future.
