If you've been rocking an older iPhone or even an SE for the last few years, the 16e is well worth the upgrade. Here's why. For reference, the iPhone 16e is basically the body of an iPhone 14 with some newer stuff inside of it. Here's how that all shakes out.

There’s no question: the new modem makes a difference to the exceptional battery life in the iPhone 16e. After all, Apple says it’s the most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone. So, the company is right to point out that the new phone has the best battery life of any iPhone with a 6.

You may also have seen in Apple's comparison tool that the iPhone 16e lacks “DC-HSDPA,” even though it's available in its pricier siblings. This is a 3G carrier aggregation technology that isn't as common these days, since 3G networks are being deprecated, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Before the iPhone 16e’s arrival, the best budget iPhone option was the SE, which had a decade-plus-old design and a tiny IPS screen with a lower resolution and an IPS panel. Replacing the SE with a product with modern design, top-tier specs, and Apple Intelligence is a major leap forward for Apple’s entry-level smartphone.

Are you a fan of the classic iPhone home button? Cue the mournful violin. With Apple’s new iPhone 16e, the one-press escape hatch/fingerprint reader is no more. The end of the home button also marks the end of the sub-$500 iPhone.

Going from the 3rd generation SE to the 16e is a big step up. But is it worth the money? Here's what you need to know.

Apple's newest phone replaces the iPhone SE in its official lineup but is more of a budget iPhone 16 with features like Apple Intelligence.