iPhone 16e for the first time under €500 on Amazon: A18 chip for Apple's most powerful entry-level model

Apple has redefined the entry-level segment with the iPhone 16e, available on Amazon for €499 in White and Black. This is not just a simple budget iPhone; it is the first model in the base range built from the ground up around Apple Intelligence, Cupertino's advanced artificial intelligence ecosystem.

-19%
Apple iPhone 16e 128 GB: designed for Apple Intelligence, with A18 chip, great battery life, 48MP Fusion camera, and 6.1'' Super Retina XDR display; White
€619.00
€499.00
Buy now

-19%
Apple iPhone 16e 128 GB: designed for Apple Intelligence, with A18 chip, great battery life, 48MP Fusion camera, and 6.1'' Super Retina XDR display; Black
€619.00
€499.00
Buy now

Like the high-end models, the iPhone 16e is based on the A18 chip, manufactured using TSMC's second-generation 3-nanometer process, the same manufacturing node used for the Pro models. The chip integrates a 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency), a 4-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and a 16-core Neural Engine, essential for local processing of AI models. The RAM is 8GB, the minimum requirement to run Apple Intelligence directly on the device without sending data to the cloud.

The iPhone 16e is designed for Apple Intelligence: thanks to the 16-core Neural Engine, it supports all the AI features of iOS 18, activated by default. Among the main features:

Writing Tools to rewrite and summarize texts,
Image Playground to generate images,
priority notifications managed by AI, and integration with ChatGPT via Siri. Also present is Visual Intelligence: by pointing the camera at an object, menu, or poster, the system responds with real-time contextual information.

The photographic system is entrusted to a 2-in-1 system with a main 48MP Fusion camera (26mm focal length, f/1.6 aperture, OIS stabilization, Hybrid Focus Pixels). Thanks to digital cropping on the high-resolution sensor, you can take 2x zoom photos without quality loss, for photos of 12MP or 48MP in super high resolution. The front camera is 12MP with autofocus and supports Portrait Mode and 4K video.

The display is a 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR panel with a resolution of 2556×1179 pixels at 460 ppi, an exceptional density for this price range. The front glass is made of Ceramic Shield, the most durable technology ever used on an iPhone, paired with an aluminum design and glass back. It supports True Tone, P3 Wide Color, and reaches a peak brightness of up to 2000 nits in full sunlight.

Apple describes the battery life of the iPhone 16e as "great", with significant improvements over previous entry-level iPhones, thanks to the energy efficiency of the A18 chip and the software optimization of iOS 18. It boasts up to 26 hours of video playback, the best battery life ever for a 6.1-inch iPhone. The connectivity is comprehensive: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C (2.0), and dual SIM (nano-SIM + eSIM). A customizable Action Button is also included.

Full technical specifications

Display: OLED Super Retina XDR, 6.1", 2556×1179 px, 460 ppi, Ceramic Shield
Chip: Apple A18, 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 3nm TSMC 2nd gen
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB (also available in 256GB and 512GB)
Rear Camera: 48MP Fusion, f/1.6, OIS, 2x zoom, 4K 60fps video
Front Camera: 12MP, autofocus, 4K video
Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C 2.0
SIM: Dual SIM (nano-SIM + eSIM)
Operating System: iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence
Colors: Black, White
Dimensions: Width 71.5 mm
Price: €499 (128GB)