Apple iPhone 16e: Eight big upgrades over predecessor iPhone SE (3rd Gen)

On Wednesday (February 19), Apple launched the new iPhone 16e, a mid-range mobile that succeeded the three-year-old iPhone SE (3rd Gen).

The latest 'e' series retires the SE series, which was first launched in 2016.

With this, Apple has completed the trinity of iPhone 16 variants -- budget-friendly iPhone 16e, a standard iPhone 16 (& 16 Plus) and the ultra-premium iPhone 16 Pro (& 16 Pro Max) .

.Google to use machine learning tech to detect user's age. The new iPhone 16e comes with a whole lot of upgrades in terms of processor, display, build quality, security and more over its predecessor.

Apple iPhone 16e: Here are key features you should know about the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) successor

. The most notable change we see in the iPhone 16e over the iPhone SE (3rd gen) is the big display and exterior looks. The new iPhone features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with a notch at the top. It has a flat curved frame around the edges.

Also, it comes with an action button. It can be programmed to launch the user's favourite apps such as Shazam, switch between silent or ring modes, turn on/off the torch, translate languages and do more.

The enclosure is made of aerospace-grade aluminium. Also, it should be noted that up to 85 per cent of aluminium is recycled.

And, the display is protected by Ceramic Shield, which is touted to be the sturdiest glass cover on any smartphone in the industry.

Also, it comes with an IP68 rating, meaning it can survive a drop in a freshwater body such as a swimming pool, a pond or a river for close to a depth of six metres (approx. 19.6 feet) for up to 30 minutes.

Face ID: With the introduction of the FaceID-based biometric security feature on the iPhone 16e, the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) becomes the last iPhone model to feature a TouchID fingerprint sensor. FaceID can be used to make in-app purchases, secure social media and messenger apps from prying eyes and lock/unlock bank apps.

. The new iPhone 16e is powered by 26-core Apple A18 silicon. It houses a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. It is optimised for large generative models and runs machine learning (ML) models up to 6x faster than A13 Bionic.

Also, with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, the device will be able to deliver more realistic lighting and reflections while playing graphics-rich AAA games available on Apple Arcade and the App Store.

. Appel iPhone 16e supports several Apple Intelligence features such as the Clean Up tool, Gemoji, smart writing tools, language translations, Visual Intelligence and more.

. Apple iPhone 16e is the company's first-ever device to boast C1, a propreitary modem designed by Apple. It is touted as the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone. It promises to deliver fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity. With the C1 modem, Apple is expected to cut ties with Qualcomm for 5G modem in future products slated for launch in the coming months and beyond.

This way Apple will save several billions of money, which earlier used to be paid as royalty to Qualcomm. Also, the Cupertino-based company will have more control over the hardware and optimise the software to deliver to best user experience on its devices.

. The new iPhone 16e comes with a 2-in-1 48MP Fusion camera. It can capture super-high-resolution photos. It supports 2x Telephoto to zoom in with optical quality to get closer to the subject and easily frame their shot.

On the front, it houses a 12MP TrueDepth camera for FaceTime calling and selfies.

The device can record up to 4K videos.

. Once the device senses the severe crash, it flashes a 20-second countdown to ascertain if it was a false alarm. And, if the user doesn't respond, it will automatically call the local emergency response team and also share the location GPS details for faster rescue.

. The latest iPhone 16e supports communication via satellite to seek emergency help when there is no cellular network or Wi-Fi service nearby. It can help with roadside assistance as well. This service is available in select regions including the US, Canada and Europe.

. The iPhone SE (3rd Gen) used to offer up to 15 hours of video playback. Now, the new iPhone 16e, thanks to A18 silicon and C1 modem, the device can last up to 26-27 hours of video playback. Almost, 12 hours longer than the predecessor.

It also supports 7.5W wireless charging with a Qi2 standard charger.

Apple has confirmed that the latest iPhone 16e is being assembled in India for Indian consumers and for export to select countries.

Apple iPhone 16e will be up for pre-order from February 21 and is slated to hit stores next week on February 28.

Apple iPhone 16s comes in two colours--black and white. It is available in three storages-- 128GB, 256GB and 512GB-- for Rs 59,900, Rs 69,900 and Rs 89,900 in India.

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