Apple's iPhone 16e makes some trades to hit a lower price, but it makes a case for itself as the cheapest phone that will last the longest.

Apple’s new iPhone 16e arrived on my doorstep at a critical time in our personal tech world. Prices are higher, consumer demand is lower, and all the “incremental improvements” companies are pushing to get us to dole out the equivalent of a mortgage payment for the next new thing are,

First, the company shifted away from the “SE” branding after nearly a decade. Then it priced the budget phone higher than expected at $599 – a notable jump from the $429 iPhone SE.

Apple's iPhone 16e features significant upgrades over the previous entry-level iPhone, including Apple Intelligence, Face ID, and an Action button.

Apple’s latest product is the iPhone 16e, the most affordable Apple phone you can buy. It goes on sale on Friday, Feb. 28, for $599 from apple.com. Along with the headline features, there are some you may not know about.

Apple delivered its latest budget handset, the $599 iPhone 16e, without pomp. There was no big event in person, nor was there one online. No journalists

The iPhone 16e settles it: Apple is no longer a luxury company. The original Mac icon artist is selling a set of adorable silver and gold keycaps. Oppo’s new folding phone transforms into a teeny-tiny MacBook.

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.

The "essential" iPhone 16e is all you need to enjoy your visit to the walled garden. Apple Intelligence included.

If the iPhone SE was your device-of-choice before, the iPhone 16e might just be right up your alley. This iPhone is meant to deliver just the essentials.