Apple announced Wednesday a new addition to its iPhone 16 series, debuting the iPhone 16e to customers, who will soon be able to pre-order the lower-cost model that includes some of the bells and whistles of Apple’s latest iPhone lineup.

<div class="image-embed__placeholder"><img src="https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67b624f92e50461d25f41da7/TOPSHOT-US-ECONOMY-APPLE-STORE/960x0.jpg?cropX1=76&amp;cropX2=3359&amp;cropY1=0&amp;cropY2=2188" alt="TOPSHOT-US-ECONOMY-APPLE-STORE" width="100%" height="auto"></div><figcaption><fbs-accordion><p class="color-body light-text" role="button">The new iPhone was announced Wednesday. (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE / AFP) </p></fbs-accordion><small>AFP via Getty Images</small></figcaption>

 <div class="key-facts-element"> <p>The iPhone 16e will be available for pre-order Friday and launch on Feb. 28, according to <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/apple-debuts-iphone-16e-a-powerful-new-member-of-the-iphone-16-family/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/apple-debuts-iphone-16e-a-powerful-new-member-of-the-iphone-16-family/" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/apple-debuts-iphone-16e-a-powerful-new-member-of-the-iphone-16-family/" aria-label="Apple">Apple</a>, which said the phone would deliver fast performance and “breakthrough battery life” at a more affordable price than other iPhone 16 models.</p>  </div> <div class="key-facts-element"> <p>The iPhone 16e will be powered by the same A18 chip found in the more expensive iPhone 16 base model and has the same 6.1-inch screen the base model has.</p>  </div> <div class="key-facts-element"> <p>The new phone has a 48 megapixel camera system and can shoot video at 4k resolution at 60 frames per second.</p>  </div> <div class="key-facts-element"> <p>The product will also feature Apple Intelligence, the phonemaker’s artificial intelligence tool limited to the iPhone 15 and 16 lineups.</p> </div>


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The iPhone 16e starts at $599 for its 128 gigabyte model, making it $200 cheaper than the base iPhone 16 model. The 256 GB iPhone 16e is priced at $699, while the 512 GB version is $899.

Apple has typically released affordable versions of its iPhones through its iPhone SE lineup, which featured smaller displays, lightning ports for charging and lower-performing chips. The iPhone 16e’s release also comes just five months after the release of the iPhone 16 lineup, bucking Apple’s trend of yearly iPhone releases. The tech giant reported $69.1 billion in <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/30/apple-earnings-preview-record-results-expected-with-china-ai-concerns-in-focus/" target="_self" class="color-link" title="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/30/apple-earnings-preview-record-results-expected-with-china-ai-concerns-in-focus/" data-ga-track="InternalLink:https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/30/apple-earnings-preview-record-results-expected-with-china-ai-concerns-in-focus/" aria-label="iPhone sales last quarter">iPhone sales last quarter</a>, falling short of Wall Street estimates by nearly $2 billion. Apple’s sales in China also came up $2.4 billion short of expectations during the quarter, generating $18.5 billion in the country dominated by the Huawei and Xiaomi smartphone brands. However, Apple managed 4% year-over-year sales growth and 10% net profit growth.

<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/30/apple-earnings-preview-record-results-expected-with-china-ai-concerns-in-focus/" target="_self" class="color-link" title="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/30/apple-earnings-preview-record-results-expected-with-china-ai-concerns-in-focus/" data-ga-track="InternalLink:https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/30/apple-earnings-preview-record-results-expected-with-china-ai-concerns-in-focus/" aria-label="Apple Earnings: Record Results Even As iPhone, China Sales Fall Short Of Forecasts">Apple Earnings: Record Results Even As iPhone, China Sales Fall Short Of Forecasts</a> (Forbes)

The iPhone16e is $200 cheaper than the iPhone 16, which launched just five months ago.{ai:summary}<p>Apple has announced the iPhone 16e, a lower-cost addition to its iPhone 16 series, available for pre-order on Friday and launching on February 28. The iPhone 16e features the A18 chip, a 6.1-inch screen, a 48-megapixel camera, and starts at $599.</p><p>This model is $200 cheaper than the base iPhone 16 and offers similar performance. The release comes shortly after the iPhone 16 lineup, marking a departure from Apple's usual annual release schedule. Despite recent sales shortfalls, Apple reported year-over-year growth. #technology</p>