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 Medium 5G SIM Only 150GB data StarHub 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) 1000 Minutes 500 Messages Deal: Trade in for extra $200 bonus cashback 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 + $172 Upfront Min. cost $1,682.80 Go	$62.95/mth + $172 Upfront Min. cost $1,682.80	Go
#4	StarHub	StarHub Large 5G SIM Only 200GB data StarHub 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) 1500 Minutes 700 Messages Deal: Trade in for extra $200 bonus cashback and other special offers $71.54 Min. cost $980.96 Go	$71.54 (plan + phone) Min. cost $980.96	Go
#5	M1	M1 Bespoke Flexi 5G 350GB 350GB data M1 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) 500 Minutes 100 Messages Deal: $100 off this device on new Bespoke Flexi + Use code 16off_flexi to get $16 off/mth on this iPhone $73.95 Min. cost $855.95 Go	$73.95 (plan + phone) Min. cost $855.95	Go
#6	StarHub	StarHub 5G Small 2-year Device Plan 200GB data StarHub 5G network Contract (24 mths) 300 Minutes 200 Messages Deal: $170 off iPhone 16 e + Get up to $200 off with new lines and port-ins + Bonus $200 trade-in cash back and special offers $75/mth + $178 Upfront Min. cost $1,978 Go	$75/mth + $178 Upfront Min. cost $1,978	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 + $310 Upfront Min. cost $1,820.80 Go	$62.95/mth + $310 Upfront Min. cost $1,820.80	Go
#3	StarHub	StarHub Medium 5G SIM Only 150GB data StarHub 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) 1000 Minutes 500 Messages Deal: Trade in for extra $200 bonus cashback and other special offers $67.79 Min. cost $1,120.96 Go	$67.79 (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,120.96	Go
#4	StarHub	StarHub 5G Small 2-year Device Plan 200GB data StarHub 5G network Contract (24 mths) 300 Minutes 200 Messages Deal: $170 off iPhone 16 e + Get up to $200 off with new lines and port-ins + Bonus $200 trade-in cash back and special offers $75/mth + $178 Upfront Min. cost $1,978 Go	$75/mth + $178 Upfront Min. cost $1,978	Go
#5	StarHub	StarHub Large 5G SIM Only 200GB data StarHub 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) 1500 Minutes 700 Messages Deal: Trade in for extra $200 bonus cashback and other special offers $77.79 Min. cost $1,130.96 Go	$77.79 (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,130.96	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 + $332.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,204.70 Go	$78/mth + $332.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,204.70	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 + $582 Upfront Min. cost $2,092.80 Go	$62.95/mth + $582 Upfront Min. cost $2,092.80	Go
#3	StarHub	StarHub 5G Small 2-year Device Plan 200GB data StarHub 5G network Contract (24 mths) 300 Minutes 200 Messages Deal: $170 off iPhone 16 e + Get up to $200 off with new lines and port-ins + Bonus $200 trade-in cash back and special offers $75/mth + $488 Upfront Min. cost $2,288 Go	$75/mth + $488 Upfront Min. cost $2,288	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 + $607.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,479.70 Go	$78/mth + $607.70 Upfront Min. cost $2,479.70	Go
#5	M1	M1 200GB Bespoke Contract 200GB data M1 5G network Contract (24 mths) 400 Minutes 400 Messages Deal: $200 off any device on new this Bespoke Contract Plan for new sign ups $79.95/mth + $323 Upfront Min. cost $2,241.80 Go	$79.95/mth + $323 Upfront Min. cost $2,241.80	Go
#6	StarHub	StarHub Medium 5G SIM Only 150GB data StarHub 5G network Device Payments (24 mths) 1000 Minutes 500 Messages Deal: Trade in for extra $200 bonus cashback and other special offers $80.29 Min. cost $1,420.96 Go	$80.29 (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,420.96	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.