Written by Quentyn Kennemer From The Verge
Original Article: https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/609618/iphone-16e-preorder-how-to-buy-price-release-date
Following months of rumors, Apple has finally announced the iPhone 16E, a spiritual successor to the last-gen iPhone SE that’s set to launch on February 28th. Preorders for Apple’s forthcoming handset start at $599 with 128GB of storage and began Friday, February 21st.
Like the most recent iPhone SE models it’s replacing, the iPhone 16E offers flagship-level performance in an older form factor at a cheaper price than its contemporaries. Apple outfitted an iPhone 14-like body with the Apple Intelligence-ready A18 chip from last year’s iPhone 16. That means it’s lost the physical home button but gains a bigger edge-to-edge 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch to house the front-facing camera and Face ID sensors.
Its net button count hasn’t changed, however, as the new iPhone SE now has a customizable Action Button, though there’s no dedicated Camera Control button. The lone 48-megapixel camera can capture 24-megapixel photos with up to 2x optical zoom, supports 4K video recording up to 60 frames per second with Dolby Vision, and offers spatial audio with post-recording Audio Mix adjustments. The Lightning port has been swapped out for USB-C as well, and you get 7.5W Qi wireless charging (no MagSafe, sorry). Notably, it’s the first iPhone with Apple’s homegrown C1 modem, which supports 5G but lacks the speeder mmWave radios.
Looking to buy? Keep reading for all your preorder options.
Where to preorder the iPhone 16E
You can preorder the iPhone 16E from Apple, Best Buy, and Target ahead of its February 28th release date. The 128GB base model retails for $599, but you can also get it with 256GB of storage for $699 or 512GB of storage for $899.
The iPhone 16E will be available in either matte black or matte white at launch, with five official silicone cases — including blue, fuchsia, green, black, and white options — available for $39 apiece.
Carrier deals
- Verizon is offering up to $600 off when you trade-in an eligible device and sign up for a new line on an Unlimited plan. Verizon also offers another deal that involves applying $419.99 promo credit to your account over the span of 36 months (so you’d be paying $5 per month instead of $16.66) when you’re on an unlimited line.
- You can the iPhone 16e from AT&T starting at $5.99 a month for 36 months when you sign up for any of its unlimited plans. This offer is available in the form of monthly bill credits.
- T-Mobile is offering the iPhone 16e for free when you trade-in a device on an eligible Magenta Max, Go5G Plus/Next, or Go5G plan, or offering a $500 discount when trading in qualifying devices on Go5G or most plans. These offers are available via 24 monthly bill credits. Metro by T-Mobile customers will also get the smartphone for free if they join Metro Flex Up or Metro Flex Plus and pay 12 months of service credits.
- Boost Mobile is offering the iPhone 16e for $200 when you sign up for the Unlimited Premium plan.
Update, February 21st: Updated the post with preorder links to retailers and carriers like Best Buy and Verizon.