A teaser from Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted that the company would unveil a new iPhone on February 19. However, during the eleventh hour, there were speculations that the company might not proceed with the ‘iPhone SE’ name, though chronologically, it will be called iPhone SE 4. Instead, a tipster found evidence through a Japanese electronics firm’s website that the device will actually be called the iPhone 16E, making it the first time Apple could introduce a name change for its low-cost handset.
The new name change to iPhone 16E could hint that Apple will continue selling the iPhone SE 3 as the only device in the lineup to feature a home button
In the image below, tipster Majin Bu shows that when he searched for related items to Apple’s iPhone 16 on Elecom’s website, the filtered results included the ‘iPhone 16E.’ In terms of design, the device will share a resemblance to the base iPhone 16 while obviously touting some changes like the lack of a Dynamic Island and a single rear camera. On the inside, we have reported on multiple occasions that the iPhone 16E will ship with Apple’s first custom in-house 5G modem, and although it is said to be slower than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75, it is a step in the right direction when claiming dependency from its current supplier.
One reason why Apple could shift to a different name for the iPhone 16E is because it sports various physical characteristics that make it appear similar to the iPhone 16. There is also the possibility that Apple does not wish to discontinue the iPhone SE 3, which, at this time, is the company’s most affordable model and continues to receive annual software updates. Given that the iPhone 16E is said to start from $499, the iPhone SE 3 could still be included in the company’s lineup for $399 or $349 to give potential buyers a more affordable path to experience iOS.
Then again, it is entirely possible that Elecom made a huge mistake, and Apple could still refer to its upcoming low-cost model as the iPhone SE, so we have to wait for the official announcement to come either later today or this week.
News Source: Majin Bu
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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