After years of rumors, Apple has officially unveiled its new budget iPhone, but it’s not what you might expect.
The new phone is no longer called the iPhone SE (4th-gen). Instead, Apple is introducing the iPhone 16e, and the name may sound familiar to long-time Android users.
If you’re wondering where you’ve heard the “e” designation before, it’s because Samsung used it for its Galaxy S10e, a cheaper flagship phone launched six years ago.
The “e” in Samsung’s case stood for “essential,” focusing on key features at a lower price. Now, Apple is bringing that concept to the iPhone 16e.
The new iPhone 16e is powered by the same A18 chip found in the regular iPhone 16 but dials down some of the extras to hit a price of $600.
While Apple’s version of the “essential” phone may not have the same name, it certainly seems inspired by the Galaxy S10e’s approach.
Apple’s iPhone 16e goes up for pre-order this Friday and will officially launch on February 28th. It’ll be interesting to see if Samsung responds on social media, considering the similarities between the two phones.
Keep an eye out—Apple might have just kicked off another round in the Apple vs. Samsung rivalry.
