First, the company shifted away from the “SE” branding after nearly a decade. Then it priced the budget phone higher than expected at $599 – a notable jump from the $429 iPhone SE.

The iPhone 16e has officially replaced the iPhone SE as Apple’s cheapest handset, but cheapest doesn’t necessarily mean cheap – in fact, I can’t quite believe how expensive the iPhone 16e is.

The newest entry-level iPhone 16e adopts a 48MP Fusion camera, which sounds like a dependable, but somewhat limited setup that lacks the broader versatility a dual-camera normally brings around. At the same time, we get a 12MP FaceTime camera.

Discover the iPhone 16e’s features, trade-offs, and what Apple didn’t tell you. Is affordability worth the compromises? Find out here.

Apple's iPhone 16E, the replacement for the 2020 iPhone SE, has seen the company finally kill off multiple things in one go. From the home button to the Lightning port, Apple's new cheapest phone comes with big changes, but it also signals the death of small phones in the tech giant's lineup. I think that's a shame.

Apple's newest affordable phone includes a bunch of premium features and tools, but to hit a sub-$600 price, it also omits a number of things.

Despite my initial skepticism, I ended up feeling positively about the new iPhone 16e and why it may be a lucrative option, especially for first-time iPhone buys.