Get in before February 28 for the best prices on Apple’s new budget iPhone 16
After months of rumours and excitement, the iPhone SE 4 is finally here – and it’s not an iPhone SE at all. Proving the majority of rumours wrong, Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e, expanding the iPhone 16 family to five with a AU$999 smartphone powerful enough to handle Apple Intelligence, and preorders went live at 12:00am AEDT on Saturday February 22. The device will become available on February 28, so you’ve still got plenty of time to get the early-bird deals that are available.
Powered by the same 3-nanometer A18 chip that motors the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, the iPhone 16e offers a more affordable route to a near-flagship Apple experience. Of course, the drastically cut costs have seen the iPhone 16e fall short of its mainline siblings in some key areas – namely a single 48MP 2-in-1 camera and the return of the notch featuring a 12MP TrueDepth camera as opposed to the dynamic island we’ve gotten used to.
However, the best cheap phones offer a near-premium experience despite those cost-cutting efforts, and Apple’s new affordable smartphone looks to do just that with its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, aluminium build and IP68 durability. It even has the iPhone 16’s Action Button, wireless charging and a supposed 26 hours of video playback on a single charge thanks to the additional power efficiency provided by Apple’s all-new C1 modem chip, which is massively impressive for a sub AU$1000 smartphone.
If you’re ensconced in the Apple family, but have been putting off upgrading due to high costs of even older iPhone models, the iPhone 16e offers a much more affordable option just as previous generations of iPhone SE have done – though it has dropped the SE’s exciting colours, coming only in Black and White
As with any big release from a major phone manufacturer, the top Australian Telcos like Vodafone and Optus, and key retailers like Apple, JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys are all in on the action, with some enticing deals to boot. Whether you’re looking for the best price, trade-in deal or the best iPhone 16e plan, we’ve got everything you need below.Best iPhone 16e preorder deals
Best iPhone 16e preorder deals
• Apple | Up to AU$270 in credit when you trade in a 2nd Gen iPhone SE
• Vodafone | AU$80.62p/m (for 12mths, then AU$90.62) | 100GB data | 24 mths
• Optus | AU$93.61p/m | 50GB data | 24 mths
• JB Hi-Fi | Gift card worth up to AU$$1,315 via trade-in
• The Good Guys | Gift card worth up to $1,315 via trade-in
iPhone 16e | Up to AU$1,060 off with a trade-in at Apple
You’d need to trade an iPhone 15 Pro Max to earn the full amount, but there’s still value to be had when trading an older, less valuable phone. For example, an 128GB iPhone 13 in good condition could earn you up to AU$320, and if you’re the owner of the 2nd Gen iPhone SE, you can take up to AU$270 off the price of your new iPhone SE 4 (ahem, 16e) by trading it in.
