Apple has clearly defined its target market for the new iPhone 16e, and the company is quite transparent about what lies ahead for this device.
Who is the iPhone 16e designed for?
If you’ve ever wished for an iPhone featuring an extra lowercase ‘e’ in its name, Apple is certainly offering you a device worth considering.
On a more serious note, Apple straightforwardly identifies the user base it expects to upgrade to the iPhone 16e.
The company aims to attract current owners of the iPhone SE 2, iPhone SE 3, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 12 mini, as well as Android users familiar with unconventional model names laden with letters.
For this audience, Apple presents a modern iPhone that, while not absolutely cutting-edge, still offers a range of impressive capabilities.
The targeted demographic is underscored by Apple’s comparisons of the iPhone 16e to earlier models—not only because the statistics are beneficial for Apple, but they underscore a clear message.
In its official announcement, Apple emphasizes that the iPhone 16e offers up to six more hours of battery life compared to the iPhone 11, and as much as 12 additional hours compared to any model of the iPhone SE. Additionally, Apple claims the iPhone 16e is up to 80% faster than the iPhone 11, with machine learning tasks operating up to six times quicker.
Apple elaborates further on its iPhone 16e product page, providing comparison metrics. It showcases battery life benchmarks specifically for video playback:
- iPhone 16e: up to 26 hours
- iPhone 11 and 12: up to 17 hours
- iPhone 12 mini and SE 2: up to 15 hours
- iPhone SE 2: up to 13 hours
Moreover, Apple contrasts the CPU performance of the iPhone 16e against older models. The iPhone 16e is stated to be 80% faster than the iPhone 11, 90% faster than the iPhone SE 2, 50% faster than both the iPhone 12 and 12 mini, and 40% faster than the iPhone SE 3.
When it comes to graphics processing power, the iPhone 16e outperforms the iPhone 11 by 70%, is 200% faster than the iPhone SE 2, 50% faster than the iPhone 12 and 12 mini, and 40% faster than the iPhone SE 3.
For those with even older iPhone models, Apple would be happy to accept your $600. However, it’s likely that the company has data indicating these specific users are the most inclined to upgrade to the iPhone 16e.
For those curious, Apple allows comparisons with models dating back to the iPhone 6 or the first-generation iPhone SE. Upgrading from a device launched in 2014 means enjoying up to 15 additional hours of battery life and a significant upgrade from the A8 to the A18 chip alongside numerous other enhancements.
What this statement indicates about the future of the iPhone 16e
Apple has been strategizing a successor to the iPhone SE 3 for a significant period, even longer than the existence of contemporary generative artificial intelligence.
It seems improbable that Apple intended to replace the $430 iPhone SE 3 with the $600 iPhone 16e.
Nonetheless, the primary function of the iPhone 16e is to incorporate Apple Intelligence into the “good” iPhone within its good-better-best spectrum.
Apple appeared unprepared for the rise of generative AI, evidenced by insufficient RAM in the iPhone 15 to support Apple Intelligence—a collection of AI features introduced while the iPhone 15 was still the best “better” model in the range.
With the iPhone 16e now fulfilling the role of providing Apple Intelligence to a wider audience, Apple can afford to let its “good” iPhone linger in its lineup for several years.
The company’s intentions for the iPhone 16e are most clearly articulated in the recent 12-minute product launch video.
While discussing the internal chip of the iPhone 16e, Apple’s Kaiann Drance mentions that the “A18 will ensure the iPhone 16e remains speedy for years ahead.”
In essence, this indicates Apple’s plan to market the iPhone 16e for an extended period. It’s unlikely we’ll see an iPhone 17e or iPhone 18e in the near future. It’s possible that the iPhone 16e will stand as the singular “e” model, similar to Apple’s approach with the lone “C” and “R” models.
One thing is certain about the iPhone 16e: Apple’s newest budget model does not embrace the colorful design seen in the iPhone 5C or iPhone XR; it comes in only black or white.
