Apple announces new budget-friendly iPhone 16e

After months of speculation surrounding the next instalment of the iPhone SE series, Apple surprised us overnight with the announcement of the new iPhone 16e. Promising similar performance to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus but with even better battery life, the iPhone 16e effectively replaces the iPhone SE (which, along with the iPhone 14 series, is no longer available on Apple's website) but it comes in at a slightly higher price.

Here's how much the iPhone 16e will cost in Singapore:

iPhone 16e 128GB: $949
iPhone 16e 256GB: $1,099
iPhone 16e 512GB: $1,399

For reference, that's $270 more than the current-generation iPhone SE, but still $350 less than the starting price of the regular iPhone 16.

The iPhone 16e releases on Friday, February 28, with plans available through Singtel, Starhub and M1.

Here are some of the most popular iPhone plans for each storage model.

iPhone 16e 128GB

#1	StarHub	StarHub 5G Lite Mobile Plan 150GB data StarHub 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) 1000 Minutes 750 Messages Deal: Up to $360 off for new lines/port-ins when you pay later and other special offers $61.54 Min. cost $970.96 Go	$61.54 (plan + phone) Min. cost $970.96	Go
#2	Singtel	Singtel Enhanced XS 5G+ 80GB data Singtel 5G network Contract (24 mths) 100 Minutes 100 Messages Deal: Enjoy up to $715 OFF this device including device discount, $30 off exclusively online and other special offers $62/mth + $337.70 Upfront Min. cost $1,825.70 Go	$62/mth + $337.70 Upfront Min. cost $1,825.70	Go
#3	M1	M1 50GB Bespoke Contract 50GB data M1 5G network Contract (24 mths) 300 Minutes 300 Messages Deal: $100 off any device on new this Bespoke Contract Plan for new sign ups $62.95/mth Min. cost $1,510.80 Go	$62.95/mth Min. cost $1,510.80	Go
#4	M1	M1 Bespoke Flexi 5G 350GB 350GB data M1 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) 500 Minutes 100 Messages Deal: $100 off any device on new Bespoke Flexi 350GB / 500GB $69.95 Min. cost $759.95 Go	$69.95 (plan + phone) Min. cost $759.95	Go
#5	StarHub	StarHub Unlimited+ Core Mobile Plan Unlimited data StarHub 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) Unlimited National Calls & SMS Deal: Up to $360 off for new lines/port-ins when you pay later and other special offers $77.54 Min. cost $986.96 Go	$77.54 (plan + phone) Min. cost $986.96	Go
#6	Singtel	Singtel Enhanced S 5G+ 200GB data Singtel 5G network Contract (24 mths) 300 Minutes 300 Messages Deal: Enjoy up to $715 OFF this device including device discount, $30 off exclusively online and other special offers $78/mth + $197.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,069.70 Go	$78/mth + $197.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,069.70	Go

iPhone 16e 256GB

#1	Singtel	Singtel Enhanced XS 5G+ 80GB data Singtel 5G network Contract (24 mths) 100 Minutes 100 Messages Deal: Enjoy up to $715 OFF this device including device discount, $30 off exclusively online and other special offers $62/mth + $477.70 Upfront Min. cost $1,965.70 Go	$62/mth + $477.70 Upfront Min. cost $1,965.70	Go
#2	M1	M1 50GB Bespoke Contract 50GB data M1 5G network Contract (24 mths) 300 Minutes 300 Messages Deal: $100 off any device on new this Bespoke Contract Plan for new sign ups $62.95/mth + $10 Upfront Min. cost $1,520.80 Go	$62.95/mth + $10 Upfront Min. cost $1,520.80	Go
#3	M1	M1 Bespoke Flexi 5G 350GB 350GB data M1 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) 500 Minutes 100 Messages Deal: $100 off any device on new Bespoke Flexi 350GB / 500GB $76.95 Min. cost $927.95 Go	$76.95 (plan + phone) Min. cost $927.95	Go
#4	Singtel	Singtel Enhanced S 5G+ 200GB data Singtel 5G network Contract (24 mths) 300 Minutes 300 Messages Deal: Enjoy up to $715 OFF this device including device discount, $30 off exclusively online and other special offers $78/mth + $332.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,204.70 Go	$78/mth + $332.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,204.70	Go
#5	M1	M1 200GB Bespoke Contract 200GB data M1 5G network Contract (24 mths) 400 Minutes 400 Messages Deal: M1 Exclusive Christmas Gifts worth $598 + $200 off any device on new this Bespoke Contract Plan for new sign ups $79.95/mth Min. cost $1,918.80 Go	$79.95/mth Min. cost $1,918.80	Go
#6	Singtel	Singtel Enhanced Core 5G+ SIM Only Unlimited data Singtel 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) 700 Minutes 700 Messages Deal: $100 cashback with this device + $30 off exclusively online and other special offers $85.79 + $32.70 Upfront Min. cost $1,171.66 Go	$85.79 (plan + phone) + $32.70 Upfront Min. cost $1,171.66	Go

iPhone 16e 512GB

#1	Singtel	Singtel Enhanced XS 5G+ 80GB data Singtel 5G network Contract (24 mths) 100 Minutes 100 Messages Deal: Enjoy up to $715 OFF this device including device discount, $30 off exclusively online and other special offers $62/mth + $747.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,235.70 Go	$62/mth + $747.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,235.70	Go
#2	M1	M1 50GB Bespoke Contract 50GB data M1 5G network Contract (24 mths) 300 Minutes 300 Messages Deal: $100 off any device on new this Bespoke Contract Plan for new sign ups $62.95/mth + $282 Upfront Min. cost $1,792.80 Go	$62.95/mth + $282 Upfront Min. cost $1,792.80	Go
#3	Singtel	Singtel Enhanced S 5G+ 200GB data Singtel 5G network Contract (24 mths) 300 Minutes 300 Messages Deal: Enjoy up to $715 OFF this device including device discount, $30 off exclusively online and other special offers $78/mth + $607.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,479.70 Go	$78/mth + $607.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,479.70	Go
#4	M1	M1 200GB Bespoke Contract 200GB data M1 5G network Contract (24 mths) 400 Minutes 400 Messages Deal: M1 Exclusive Christmas Gifts worth $598 + $200 off any device on new this Bespoke Contract Plan for new sign ups $79.95/mth + $123 Upfront Min. cost $2,041.80 Go	$79.95/mth + $123 Upfront Min. cost $2,041.80	Go
#5	M1	M1 Bespoke Flexi 5G 350GB 350GB data M1 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) 500 Minutes 100 Messages Deal: $100 off any device on new Bespoke Flexi 350GB / 500GB $88.95 Min. cost $1,215.95 Go	$88.95 (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,215.95	Go
#6	Singtel	Singtel Enhanced M 5G+ 250GB data Singtel 5G network Contract (24 mths) 600 Minutes 600 Messages Deal: Enjoy up to $715 OFF this device including device discount, $30 off exclusively online and other special offers $98/mth + $422.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,774.70 Go	$98/mth + $422.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,774.70	Go

Although it bears the iPhone 16 moniker, in terms of design, the iPhone 16e has a few noticeable omissions that bring it closer in appearance to the iPhone 14 and 15. There's no camera control button, only one camera (a 48MP Fusion camera with integrated telephoto lens), and instead of the Dynamic Island found on the iPhone 14 Pro and up, the iPhone 16e has a notched display. It will be available in two colours: black and white.

Like the rest of the iPhone 16 family, the 16e is built for Apple Intelligence and shares a similar A18 chip found on its pricier siblings. It also sports a new addition found on no other iPhone, which is Apple's C1 cellular modem. Designed in-house, it claims to significantly improve battery life, with the 16e rated for up to 26 hours of video playback, compared to 22 hours in the base iPhone 16.