Thumbs-Up or Down? : iPhone 16e
Apple announced the new iPhone 16e model on February 20, 2025, and the sale of the third-generation iPhone SE has ended.
This is unfortunate for me. Due to work circumstances, I use two iPhones, one for personal use and one for work. The iPhone SE as a second phone is small, lightweight, and easy to carry. It is also useful as a backup in case of emergency, and it is an indispensable existence.As a 4.7-inch iPhone, it will end its history of about 10 years since the iPhone 6 in 2014.
The option for a small and inexpensive iPhone disappears
The third-generation iPhone SE will be released in 2022, and the appearance of a successor model was eagerly awaited, but the iPhone 16e announced this time is positioned as a cheaper version of the iPhone 16. However, the higher price than the SE was disappointing.
The numbers for the body size and screen size are the same as the iPhone 14, and the size and usability are likely to change significantly, such as the inclusion of Face ID for facial recognition instead of Touch ID for fingerprint authentication.
Replacing the iPhone 16e, sales of the third-generation iPhone SE and iPhone 14 have ended. They have been removed from Apple's website.
The iPhone SE was very popular in the US prepaid market. However, its share of iPhone sales is expected to fall to 1% by 2024. Was the difference in functionality too large after all?
Sales in Europe ended earlier due to the transition to USB-C, so it seems reasonable to end sales worldwide.
However, the 4.7-inch iPhone SE has features that cannot be replaced by other models. Its width is 67.3 mm, less than 70 mm, which is considered easy to hold. Like the already discontinued iPhone 13 mini, it was also popular with people who carry their smartphones in their pockets.
It also weighs only 144 grams. The iPhone 16e weighs 167 grams, which is 3 grams lighter than the relatively light iPhone 16, but it will still feel heavy compared to the iPhone SE.
I also liked the Touch ID fingerprint authentication. There are still many people who are used to fingerprint authentication.
As for the case, it is interesting that many of them can be used with the 4.7-inch models from the iPhone 7 onwards. Over the years, a wide variety of cases have been made and distributed, with emphasis on practicality and appearance, which is also a reason for its popularity.
Although it has disappeared from Apple's product lineup, the need for such small and inexpensive iPhones will not disappear immediately. It will be interesting to see where users will go. Isn't there a concern about the transition to Android phones, which are cheaper but continue to improve in performance?
