Supports Apple’s Generative AI ‘Apple Intelligence’
Equipped with Latest A18 Processor and In-House Communication Modem
Korea Included in First Release Countries... Pre-orders on the 21st, Launch on the 28th
Apple has unveiled its new budget smartphone, the 'iPhone 16e'. Although the price has increased compared to the previous iPhone SE 3rd generation, it is equipped with last year's latest Apple application processor (AP) and also supports the artificial intelligence (AI) service 'Apple Intelligence'.
Apple announced on the 20th that the budget model 'iPhone 16e' will be released on the 28th. This is the first time in about three years since 2022 that Apple has introduced a new budget model.
In addition to the iPhone series announced every year in the second half, Apple has irregularly introduced models focused on 'cost-effectiveness' (performance relative to price). After first launching the iPhone SE in 2016, it released the 2nd generation (2020) and 3rd generation (2022) models consecutively. With this release, Apple has changed the name of the budget model from iPhone SE to iPhone 16e.
The design of the iPhone 16e is largely similar to the iPhone 14 released in 2022. Unlike the past SE models that had a home button, the home button has been removed and most of the front is covered by the display. The display size has also increased from 4.7 inches to 6 inches, and the material has changed from LCD to organic light-emitting diode (OLED). The security method has also shifted from Touch ID fingerprint recognition via the home button to Face ID facial recognition technology.
The AP, considered the brain of the smartphone, is the latest product. The iPhone 16e is equipped with the A18 chip, which was also applied to the iPhone 16 series. According to Apple, the 6-core CPU embedded in the A18 chip delivers speeds up to 80% faster compared to the A13 Bionic chip in the iPhone 11. This means apps can run in an environment similar to the flagship iPhone 16 model.
Another notable feature is the first application of Apple’s self-developed communication modem chip. Apple has installed its directly designed communication modem, the ‘Apple C1’, in the iPhone 16e. Until now, Apple has used Qualcomm’s communication modem chips.
The battery has also been improved, extending usage time. According to Apple, the iPhone 16e records up to 26 hours of battery life for video playback. This is up to 12 hours longer than the previous generation iPhone SE and up to 6 hours longer than the iPhone 11.
The iPhone 16e allows users to utilize Apple’s generative artificial intelligence (AI) service, Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence offers features such as image generation and editing, notification summaries, and message summaries. Currently, it only supports English, but Apple plans to support Korean in early April.
The input/output port has also shifted from Apple’s proprietary Lightning 8-pin to USB-C. Additionally, an action button that users can customize with desired functions has been added.
However, there are some features that lag behind the iPhone 16 series released last year. It does not support the 'Dynamic Island', which displays real-time information, as it uses a notch-type display. Unlike the standard models that support three cameras (Pro model) or two cameras (regular model) on the rear, it is equipped with only one camera. Apple’s wireless charging technology 'MagSafe' is also not supported, and the ultra-wideband (UWB) communication function has been removed.
The domestic price of the iPhone 16e in Korea is set at 990,000 KRW for the cheapest 128-gigabyte (GB) model. This is a significant increase compared to the previous iPhone SE3, which started at 650,000 KRW. In the United States, the selling price is set at $599, which is $170 higher than the iPhone SE3 ($429). The colors available are white and black.
Korea is included in the first wave of countries for the iPhone 16e release. This is the second time Korea has been included in the first wave of iPhone releases, following the launch of the iPhone 16 series last year. Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e will begin at 10 PM on the 21st, and the official release is scheduled for the 28th of this month.
Kaiann Drance, Apple’s Vice President of iPhone Product Marketing, said, "The iPhone 16e is packed with features that users love from the iPhone 16 lineup, including innovative battery life, fast performance powered by the latest generation A18 chip, an advanced two-in-one camera system, and Apple Intelligence. We are excited that the iPhone 16e, which completes the lineup, will provide a powerful and more practical option to deliver the iPhone experience to more people."
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