# **Apple Launches iPhone 16e: A New Chapter for Budget iPhones**
Apple has officially launched the **iPhone 16e**, marking the first significant iPhone debut of 2025. This new device takes the place of the long-anticipated iPhone SE 4 and introduces a new branding strategy for Apple’s budget smartphone range.
## **A Blend of Classic and Contemporary Design**
The iPhone 16e borrows design elements from the **iPhone 14**, showcasing a **6.1-inch OLED screen** that features a notch. In contrast to the Pro models, it does not offer **ProMotion** or **Always-On display** technology. Nonetheless, Apple has incorporated the **Action Button**, which was once limited to the iPhone 15 Pro devices.
A notable addition is **Visual Search**, which had been restricted to devices with **Camera Control**. This enhancement improves the device’s capability to identify objects, text, and more instantaneously.
## **Robust Performance with the A18 Chip**
Apple has integrated the **A18 chip** into the iPhone 16e, the same processor utilized in the standard **iPhone 16** series. Crafted using **second-generation 3-nanometer technology**, this chip significantly enhances performance and energy efficiency.
### **Major Performance Improvements:**
– **16-core Neural Engine** optimized for **Apple Intelligence**, capable of executing machine learning models **twice as quickly** as the A16 Bionic.
– **6-core CPU**, which is **30% quicker** and consumes **30% less energy** compared to the A16 Bionic.
– **5-core GPU**, providing **40% faster graphics performance** and **35% improved efficiency** than the A16 Bionic.
– **Hardware-accelerated ray tracing**, achieving **5x higher frame rates** for more lifelike lighting effects in gaming.
## **Camera Upgrades**
In contrast to prior SE models that featured a **single-lens camera**, the iPhone 16e is now equipped with a **48MP rear camera**. This enhancement permits higher-resolution images, better low-light performance, and advanced **computational photography** features.
## **A Budget-Friendly iPhone with Premium Features**
Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, **Kaiann Drance**, stressed that the **iPhone 16e** includes numerous features that users appreciate from the iPhone 16 series at a more affordable price.
*”iPhone 16e encompasses the features that our users adore about the iPhone 16 series, including exceptional battery life, rapid performance driven by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera setup, and Apple Intelligence,”* stated Drance.
## **Concluding Remarks**
The **iPhone 16e** signifies a change in Apple’s approach to budget-friendly iPhones. By integrating a **modern design, powerful A18 chip, and a 48MP camera**, Apple is enhancing accessibility to premium features.
With this launch, Apple has also adopted a **new naming scheme**, moving away from the **SE branding** and bringing the device into closer alignment with the **main iPhone series**.
The iPhone 16e is anticipated to be a favored option for users seeking a **powerful yet budget-conscious** iPhone experience in 2025.
