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Apple has announced a new iPhone which brings artificial intelligence (AI) features at a lower cost than its flagship handsets.<\/p>\n
The iPhone 16e has the same processor as the larger iPhone 16, Apple said, with similar storage options, though a lower spec elsewhere, including fewer cameras.<\/p>\n
Apple has been struggling to find a new product that excites consumers – sales of iPhones dropped at the end of last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n It will be hoping that bringing enhanced AI functionality to a less expensive phone will address that – however analysts have been cautious about the sales boost such tools bring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Its name is clearly a nod to its iPhone SE series, which were released from 2016 to 2022, and similarly priced significantly lower.<\/p>\n Apple said the iPhone 16e will be available for pre-order from February 21 in 59 countries<\/p>\n It will launch in the UK for \u00a3599, which is \u00a3200 less than the iPhone 16 – but more than double what the original iPhone SE went for when it launched in 2016.<\/p>\n “This now becomes one of the most affordable powerful iPhones now on the market,” industry analyst Paolo Pescatore told BBC News.<\/p>\n “The move should help accelerate adoption and especially its foray into AI with Apple Intelligence.<\/p>\n “Apple’s trust and credibility is critical – this alone will help drive sales and lure users from rival devices and platforms.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Much of the conversation around the new handset will likely centre around its power, with Apple electing to use the same A18 chip behind its more expensive devices.<\/p>\n This means the 16e will be capable of playing the same games and running the same apps as other iPhones – though AI is likely at the heart of this decision. <\/p>\n Apple boss Tim Cook said in the announcement the new model featured “the performance, intelligence and privacy” Apple fans “expect” from the firm.<\/p>\n And he said the Apple Intelligence features on the device would “help you save time, quickly get more things done, and express yourself in new ways”.<\/p>\n The firm introduced its spin on the tech – Apple Intelligence – with this series of devices, which includes new tools for writing and incorporating OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT into Siri.<\/p>\n