Last year, Apple unveiled the iPhone 16E, which replaced the iPhone SE as the “most affordable” accessory in the company’s lineup, incorporating some (but not all) of the features of the iPhone 16 series at a slight discount. If you want a cheap iPhone with enough bells and whistles, the iPhone 16E still good — but don’t buy yet.
That’s because the new version, the iPhone 17E, could be here — as early as next month, according to rumors. Since the iPhone 16E is a rare compromise, it’s worth waiting to learn what features Apple will add (and remove) to keep it as a low-cost iPhone option.
Like new price iPhones increased over the years, peaking at $829 iPhone 17 (not including the price The wind, Pro and Pro Max models), the humble iPhone SE remained an affordable option; its last update in 2022 left the price at $429. Despite having a small 4.7-inch display framed between the thick top and bottom bezels that first appeared on the iPhone 6the handset’s state-of-the-art internal hardware means it can be compatible with the latest applications.
The iPhone 16E was a redesigned upgrade with a 6.1-inch screen that spanned the entire front of the phone and enough RAM to run Apple Intelligence. But this upgrade brought the price down to $600. However, Apple has left out a few popular features from its prices iPhone 16 its siblings at the time, such as an ultrawide or telephoto camera; the 16E has a single 48-megapixel shooter. It also lacks MagSafe and charges wirelessly with a slower 7.5-watt Qi standard. Its USB-C 2.0 port charges at a low 20 watts.
It was clear that Apple left out some good features to keep the price down — or to put it another way, explain why the standard iPhone 16 was $200, the same cost as the current iPhone 17.
But that may not be the case with the rumored iPhone 17E. It is possible that Apple can be generous with the second generation of its modern “budget” phone. For example, Apple has chosen to stick with a camera like the iPhone 16E’s 48-megapixel one in the more expensive iPhone Air, but that model is hampered by a small space inside the body; the iPhone 17E will not need to make that compromise and can share the same two cameras (wide and wide) found on the iPhone 17. It helps that Apple produces and sells so many iPhone 17 models that it would be financially better for them to share common features between the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17E.
However, the limitations of the iPhone 16E indicate that Apple will release features and keep the price of its entry-level iPhone low. Even if you have doubts about Apple introducing new features in the iPhone 17E, it is worth waiting a month or two until the rumored launch to know for sure.
And if you’re not impressed with Apple’s new device when it arrives, and decide to pick up the iPhone 16E anyway, you’ll still want to wait: the company often discounts older iPhones (and refurbished models) once they’ve been replaced by newer models. Even if Apple chooses to fully include the iPhone 16E in its inventory and stop selling it, third-party sellers will continue to stock it and may lower its price to remove it from inventory.
So if you can wait for the launch of the iPhone 17E, you should try to secure it in the next month or so. You’ll either save money or make informed purchases, both of which are smart reasons to be patient.
