Apple’s newest smart device has been released as the iPhone 16e in India, ahead of the removal of the iPhone SE from its own store. This move indicates that perhaps the company is done with its budget-friendly SE line-up. Apple has opted to add a lower-cost model to the iPhone 16 family, rather than launch the iPhone SE 4. Here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone 16e specs, India price, and availability.

Apple iPhone 16e Launched in India at ₹59,900: Specifications, Features, and Availability

In the US, the iPhone 16e’s starting price is set at $599 (roughly ₹49,500) for the base 128GB model. The introductory price in India for the base variant of iPhone 16e is ₹59,900. The iPhone 16e will go on sale for pre-order on February 21 and will commence shipping on February 28. For those needing more storage, the 256GB model is priced at ₹69,900, while the 512GB variant costs ₹89,900. The iPhone 16e features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch that houses the Face ID system for secure authentication.

For the first time, it replaces Apple’s familiar mute switch with an Action button to quickly perform functions from the camera to Do Not Disturb. Apple has also replaced Lightning on the device with USB-C to enable faster charging and data transfers. Under the hood, the iPhone 16e would be powered by Apple’s generally available A18 chip, which would carry a ton of performance improvements. The 6-core CPU is 80 percent faster than A13 Bionic which is included in the iPhone 11.

It also features a 4-core GPU and a new 16-core Neural Engine optimized for running AI workloads, and Apple says it can process AI models up to six times faster than on the A13. The iPhone 16e also supports Apple Intelligence, integrating features such as Genmoji, Writing Tools, and ChatGPT for seamless usage. Photography-wise, it features a single 48 MP Fusion rear camera with 2x Telephoto zoom, able to shoot in either detailed 24 MP or full 48 MP resolution.

The camera supports Night mode, Portrait mode, and HDR, making it easier to take good photos in low-light or complicated lighting conditions. The front-facing 12MP TrueDepth camera, with autofocus, can record 4K video up to 60 frames per second and supports Dolby Vision. Apple says the iPhone 16e provides up to 26 hours of video playback and improved battery life over earlier models. It is compatible with wireless charging and has satellite-related capabilities like Messages via Satellite and Emergency SOS for connectivity in poor cellular networks. It also has Crash Detection, which can automatically contact emergency services in the event of a serious crash.