Apple has unveiled its latest iPhone and it’s set to hit UK shelves this month. On Wednesday, the company’s CEO Tim Cook gave the world the first glimpse at the iPhone 16e, touted as the ‘powerful new member of the iPhone 16 family’. The latest model is intended to be a budget-friendly version of the iPhone 16, which offers ‘powerful capabilities at a more affordable price’. Apple has confirmed the iPhone 16e will cost £599 when buying outright. This is compared to the £799 iPhone 16 and £999 iPhone 16 Pro.
It will be available in black or white and storage options of 128GB, 256GB or 512GB. UK customers will be able to pre-order the iPhone 16e from Friday, February 21, ahead of its release on Friday, February 28. READ MORE: Apple iPhone 16e: Sky, Three, EE, and Vodafone deals to save as pre-orders launch soon.
READ MORE: Virgin Media will give you a free 4K TV or £200 if you switch this month. Networks including EE, Vodafone and Three Mobile have confirmed they will stock the new iPhone, with pre-orders also opening on February 21. Monthly contract prices have yet to be confirmed, but these retailers will be offering the phones on data plans which usually range from 24 to 36 months.
While prices are still under wraps, Three has confirmed it will offer up to 24 months of free Paramount+, up to three years extended warranty on the handset and a free screen repair on its 24-month Complete plan. Vodafone has said its Vodafone Xchange scheme will be available with the iPhone 16e, which lets customers exchange their phone for a new one every year on a 24-month Phone Plan.
Sky Mobile is also likely to offer the device alongside its data plans, which often run half price deals to pair with its 36-month contracts. One thing to keep in mind with these options is that most providers increase their prices every April as inflation rises, so the price you sign up for may increase each year.
But as well as the many monthly options, it will also be possible to buy the phone outright, as the likes of Amazon, Argos and Very will be expected to stock the device. In terms of specifications, the iPhone 16e has a 6.1” display and is powered by the brand’s latest-generation A18 chip, which allows the device to run up to 80% faster than the iPhone 11.
It also boasts AI features with Apple Intelligence, with functions including removing objects from images, and ChatGPT integrated into Writing Tools and Siri. Another standout feature is the 48MP Fusion camera capable of taking super-high-resolution photos and the two-in-one camera system that can capture crystal clear images day or night.
It can also record videos in 4K with Dolby Vision and has new safety features including Emergency SOS and Roadside Assistance. Announcing the iPhone 16e in a statement on Wednesday, Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, said: “iPhone 16e packs in the features our users love about the iPhone 16 lineup, including breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system and Apple Intelligence.
