Apple unveils cheaper iPhone 16e powerful enough to run AI

Apple announced a new iPhone model on Wednesday that is priced lower than its main iPhone models, which usually come out in September.
The new iPhone is called iPhone 16e, and it will retail for $599 when it goes on sale later this month.

The new iPhone 16e doesn’t have a home button and fingerprint sensor, instead, it uses Apple’s FaceID scanner and modern design including a sensor notch at the top of the screen. It uses Apple’s A18 chip, which is also used in the main iPhone 16 models. The updated processor means that the iPhone 16e can run all the same apps and games that more expensive iPhones can run. It comes in black and white.

The phone also includes Apple’s first cellular modem, which it calls C1. iPhones have used Qualcomm modems for the past few years. It also has a single camera lens, versus as many as three on the most advanced iPhones.

Apple is releasing a new low-cost iPhone as sales have been mixed in recent quarters and Apple seeks growth for its most important product category. For the December quarter, Apple’s overall iPhone sales were down 1% on an annual basis. Apple still sold over $69 billion of phones in the period.