Apple debuts iPhone 16e

The notable features of the latest model are its A18 chip and the new Apple C1, the first cellular modem designed by the company. It also integrates Apple Intelligence, an intelligence platform designed by the company and currently embedded into IOS 18, which was released in September 2024.

It represents renewed interest from device manufacturers like Apple who hope that integrated AI features will give them the edge over competitors. Imagination, a company that creates GPUs for smartphone makers, told Electronic Specifier in a recent briefing that the integration of AI features into smartphones has helped to boost the market, but cannot impact on the fundamental design or performance of the phone, or it won’t be tolerated by consumers.

Examples of where Apple Intelligence can be enjoyed by the user include the ability to remove images from photos, talk to Siri which is more ‘conversational’ and answer questions around settings.

ChatGPT is also integrated into Writing Tools and Siri, allowing users to access it for free without creating an account. This follows the announcement of a partnership between Apple and OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, in June 2024.

Other key features of the iPhone 16e include satellite features such as Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages and Find My via satellite, another shift in the smartphone market as providers look to satellite constellations to ensure continued coverage for areas where terrestrial infrastructure fails.

The screen is a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with OLED technology and according to Apple, the battery life lasts six hours longer than iPhone 11 models and 12 hours longer than all generations of iPhone SE.

In the announcement, Kaiann Drance, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing noted its “breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, and Apple Intelligence”.