Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e today, marking the end of an era as it replaces the third-generation iPhone SE in the company’s budget segment and a few other changes in its lineup we’ve never seen before.
This move eliminates several legacy features from Apple’s current offerings, including small-screen devices that once served a dedicated customer base. The transition also marks a complete departure from Lightning ports, Touch ID, and LCD panels as it fully embraces OLED tech.
In an expected break from Apple tradition, the Cupertino giant Apple has also discontinued its iPhone 14 and 14 Plus mid-cycle, coinciding with this new release. Perhaps this has to do with the iPhone 16e being based on the iPhone 14? We will probably never know.
Apple now offers seven different models: the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus from last year’s lineup, alongside the new iPhone 16 series, which includes the standard 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max, with the newly introduced iPhone 16e rounding out the collection. If Apple continues the same phase-out strategy this year, the company will likely discontinue the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models when it unveils the iPhone 17 series this September.
As for the iPhone 17 family, this lineup is expected to bring a shift in camera design similar to the Google Pixel series where the camera array looks like a visor. Apple is also expected to introduce the new iPhone 17 Air, a slimmer version of its siblings.
