Apple's new 'affordable' iPhone 16e slammed as 'budget' version is priced at £200 more expensive than previous SE model

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After months of anticipation, Apple finally unveiled its latest smartphone to the world last night - the iPhone 16e.

The device runs Apple Intelligence features, including a ChatGPT integration with smart assistant Siri.

It also includes a 6.1-inch display, a two-in-one camera system, an ‘extraordinary’ battery life, and the return of the 'notch' at the top of the display.

While prices start at £599/$599 – making the iPhone 16e £200/$200 cheaper than the iPhone 16 – this price-tag has left many Apple fans reeling.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), one use wrote called the price 'absurd'.

'$599 for the iPhone 16e is insane. Then when you consider storage upgrades, you could be paying anywhere between $600-$900 for this phone with ONE CAMERA. Absurd,' they vented.

Another added: 'Disappointing iPhone 16e. The price is too high, no matter how high the specs are. I'll take Android over expensive iPhone now.'

And one joked: 'Looks like the "e" in "iPhone 16e" stands for expensive.'

While prices start at £599/$599 – making the iPhone 16e £200/$200 cheaper than the iPhone 16 – this price-tag has left many Apple fans reeling. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), one use wrote called the price 'absurd'

One user joked: 'Looks like the "e" in "iPhone 16e" stands for expensive.'

The device runs Apple Intelligence features , including a ChatGPT integration with smart assistant Siri

iPhone 16e is the latest in Apple's 'budget' line of smartphones, which until now has been known as 'iPhone SE' (Special Edition).

The new handset had been heavily leaked leading up to the official reveal on Wednesday, although the change in name came as something of a surprise.

'iPhone 16e packs in the features our users love about the iPhone 16 lineup, including breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, and Apple Intelligence,' said Kaiann Drance, Apple's vice president of worldwide iPhone product marketing.

'We're so excited for iPhone 16e to complete the lineup as a powerful, more affordable option to bring the iPhone experience to even more people.'

While the smartphone is packed with impressive features, it is more expensive than predicted.

Users can choose between three storage options - 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB.

While the 128GB option is priced at £599/$599, the 256GB option is an additional £100/$100 (priced at £699/$699).

Meanwhile, the highest storage option, 512GB, will set you back £899/$899.

One user joked: 'If you ever feel useless in life...Just remember Apple had the AUDACITY! to say "Greatest Price" referring to the iPhone 16e'

iPhone 16e: Key specs

Display: 6.1-inch
Chip: Apple A18
Cameras: 48MP primary camera and 12MP selfie camera
Operating system: iOS 18
Additional features: Face ID, USB-C charging port
Release date: February 28
Price: £599/$599

For comparison, the iPhone 16 itself is priced at £799/$799 - £1,099/$1,099, while the iPhone 16 Pro starts at £999/$999.

Following the announcement, several disgruntled Apple fans took to X to discuss the pricing.

'The way I GASPED when I saw the new iPhone 16e starts at $599. It's too much for too little,' one user tweeted.

'Yes performance is great but I can easily find a Galaxy S24 for that price.'

Another added: 'If the #iPhone16e was priced at $499 it would have been easier to swallow.

'However, the lack of ‌MagSafe‌, a brighter display, the ‌Dynamic Island a large array of camera capabilities is a deal breaker.

'Just get the 16 or a refurbed SE. It's no longer a budget phone.'

And one joked: 'If you ever feel useless in life...Just remember Apple had the AUDACITY! to say "Greatest Price" referring to the iPhone 16e.'

One user vented that Apple had 'messed up with pricing' for the iPhone 16e

According to Apple , iPhone 16e has the best battery life on a 6.1-inch iPhone, lasting up to six hours longer than iPhone 11 and up to 12 hours longer than all generations of iPhone SE

According to Apple, iPhone 16e has the best battery life on a 6.1-inch iPhone, lasting up to six hours longer than iPhone 11 and up to 12 hours longer than all generations of iPhone SE.

Its display, meanwhile, has an edge-to-edge design that is suited for watching HDR videos, playing games and 'reading crisp text'.

At the very top of the screen is the notch – the rectangular black area extending downwards – which hides a 12 megapixel front-facing camera.

This allows Face ID, the facial recognition system that scans your face to unlock your phone or make purchases with Apple Pay.

Meanwhile, the two-in-one camera on the back of the phone is 48 megapixel and has a with an integrated 2x telephoto lens.

Pre-orders for the phone begin Friday, February 21, with availability beginning Friday, February 28.

THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF APPLE

1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1 1976 as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.

The first product was the Apple I.

1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market.

Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation's new Macintosh February 6, 1984 in California.

1981: Jobs became chairman.

1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.

1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.

1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.

The then Chief Executive Officer of Apple, Steve Jobs, with the iPhone

2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.

The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.

2007: Apple unveils the iPhone.

2010: The first iPad was unveiled.

2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.

2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones - the 6 and 6 Plus.

2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.

2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.

2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner's face.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.

2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers.

2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.

2020: In March, Apple closes all its bricks and mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus.

2021: In an online virtual event in April CEO Tim Cook declared Apple's goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year the iPhone 13 was announced.

2022: In September the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash as well as an improved camera system.

2023: Apple brought back its 'Home Pod' after the first generation was discontinued. The 'Home Pod' can be seen as an alternative to Amazon's Alexa or Google Home as it is powered by voice commands.

2024: Apple makes its first steps into artificial intelligence with the release of Apple Intelligence. The features are not all released at once with many delayed until the following year.

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