Launched in Feb 2025, the iPhone 16e is Apple’s entry-level model and replaced the long-established iPhone SE brand. While the ‘e’ echoed the branding of the entry-level iPhone, the ’16’ signified that this was part of the main line of iOS-powered smartphones with the potential of an annual update.
The iPhone 16e Price Rise
It also came with a higher price—$599 in the US and £599 here in the UK—that was some £100 more than the expected £499 price tag and significantly higher than the SE’s final price of £429, although the later was with a smaller storage option.
That price is set to return for a short period, thanks to Amazon.
Amazon’s iPhone 16e Special Offer
The upcoming Prime Day sales will feature the 128 GB version of the iPhone 16e on sale for £494, representing a discount of more than £100 off the list price in the Apple Store. It may not match the £419 launch price of the iPhone SE in 2022, although that SE price was for the model with 64 GB of storage. The 128 GB storage model was £469, and is the closest comparison to the iPhone 16e.
If you are looking for more storage, the 256 GB model is available for £594 down from $699, and 512 GB for £794 down from £899. As a Prime Day deal, you will need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to access the sale price, which itself is valid until midnight on Friday, July 11.
iPhone 16e Advantages
The iPhone 16e offers many advantages over the previous iPhone SE. The key difference is the use of the A18 Apple Silicon chipset. This matches the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, and allows the full suite of Apple Intelligence tools to be used. Face ID is also introduced at this price point, alongside a new design with a USB-C port and a larger display.
While Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September, a potential iPhone 17e would likely wait until Q1 2026 before going on sale. If you’re looking for one of the iPhone e models, this is an offer worth considering.
Now read the latest Apple headlines impacting the iPhone 16e in Forbes’ weekly smartphone news digest…
