iPhone 16e review: The most expensive cheap iPhone yet
by Samuel Axon from Ars Technica - All content on (#6VRFD)
For a long time, the cheapest iPhones were basically just iPhones that were older than the current flagship, but last week's release of the $600 iPhone 16e marks a big change in how Apple is approaching its lineup.
Rather than a repackaging of an old iPhone, the 16e is the latest main iPhone-that is, the iPhone 16-with a bunch of stuff stripped away.
There are several potential advantages to this change. In theory, it allows Apple to support its lower-end offerings for longer with software updates, and it gives entry-level buyers access to more current technologies and features. It also simplifies the marketplace of accessories and the like.