Updated Feb. 19 with confirmation of the unveiling of the new iPhone.
Apple is about to launch a new product, the company confirmed last week. It’s presumed to be the fourth-generation iPhone SE, Apple’s most affordable phone. But we now know, as of 8 a.m. Pacific on Wednesday, Feb. 19, that it is a completely different beast: iPhone 16e.
Will the new iPhone look like this, the iPhone 14?
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Here’s what we now know—and you can read an analysis of why the name seemed increasingly likely below.
ForbesApple iPhone SE 4 Release Date: Your Final, Complete Guide To What And WhenBy David PhelanThe new phone isn’t an SE at all, it’s the newest member of the iPhone 16 family. It’s called the iPhone 16e. Apple hasn’t given a meaning to the name, but given it’s $200 cheaper than the iPhone 16, maybe it stands for economical. I don’t think so, but you never know.
It has things that no iPhone SE has had: an original design, based on but not the same as the iPhone 16. In fact, it has one thing no other iPhone has ever had: a modem designed by Apple in-house. It’s called the Apple C1 and Apple says it’s the most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone.
It has what Apple says is exceptional battery life, up to 26 hours’ video playback. It means it has the longest battery life of any iPhone with a 6.1-inch display—longer than the pricier iPhone 16.
It’s the first iPhone ever to have a single rear camera with 48-megapixel resolution.
Since the iPhone SE is no longer available, as of today, it means that every iPhone Apple sells has Face ID. Farewell, Home Button, a mainstay of the iPhone range since 2007.
The Face ID cameras, by the way, are housed in a cut-out, not a Dynamic Island.
Storage is the same as the iPhone 16, starting at 128GB. And the Apple A18 processor means it can handle Apple Intelligence.
What else is missing compared to the other phones in the iPhone 16 range? Not much. There’s no Camera Control—though Visual Intelligence is accessible through the Action Button.
Pricing starts at $599 (£599 in the U.K.). That’s a lot more than the iPhone SE, which started at $429. But it does a lot more.
The iPhone 16E moniker was first mentioned back in December, but was largely discounted as incorrect. Then, prolific leaker Majin Bu picked it up shortly thereafter.
Now, Majin Bu has commented on X that the iPhone 16E name is the one they think is coming. They said: “According to the latest information available online, it seems that someone who has seen the boxes of the new iPhone SE 4 has revealed that the official name will be iPhone 16E. Additionally, the design is expected to be based on the iPhone 16 rather than the iPhone 14, but without the Dynamic Island and the capture button.”
This design comment is important. While the new phone clearly has an original design, basing it on the latest iPhone in terms of size is a key reason to add 16 to the name. For reference, the iPhone 14 measured 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches and the iPhone 16 is slightly taller: 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggested as much, doubling down on comments made back in January from various sources.
What if, the theory goes, Apple is launching a phone that’s so different from previous SE models that it doesn’t need to be called SE and should be given a new name to indicate how distinct it is from the SE series?
“Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook announced the event on X last week, saying the company would announce its “newest member of the family.” That seems to imply that the iPhone SE will get a new name and be marketed as an fresh addition to the lineup. Given how drastic the overhaul is to the iPhone SE, a new name makes complete sense,” Gurman said.
I see the logic in this. Apple iPhone SE is identified with a low-cost smartphone which takes an existing design and slavishly copies it, only updating the insides of the phone with a new processor, 5G or other upgrades.
But every report about this week’s launch point to a phone with a completely original design. Sure, it looks like it’s based on the iPhone 14 (or iPhone 16), but that has two cameras and it’s thought this will only have one, perhaps with 48-megapixel resolution.
It’s also not clear whether the new phone will have the Dynamic Island cut-out, or the new Camera Control or a customizable Action button, none of which were on the iPhone 14.
And the processor is likely to be the A18, found in the iPhone 16, as this offers compatibility with Apple Intelligence, surely a shoo-in for the new phone?
In which case, a name that evokes the latest iPhone series could be good, and that puts iPhone 16e in the frame.
Plus, if it doesn’t have SE in the name, the expectation that it will be as affordable as the current model, $429, is diminished. Given the upgrades over the current SE, which include an OLED screen and Face ID, a price increase seems wholly unsurprising.
On the other hand, the SE name has recognition and longevity: it can stay in the range for years, not least because there’s no number in its name.
All will be revealed in the coming hours.
ForbesNew Apple iPhone SE Could Have 1 Discouraging Feature, New Leak ClaimsBy David Phelan
