The iPhone SE has been replaced by the iPhone 16e, which starts at £600/$600 and features a binned A18 chipset, 48MP main camera, and a 6.1” OLED display. Unlike its predecessor, the 16e lacks ultra-wide and MagSafe support. It’s priced closely to the iPhone 16, which offers more features like Dynamic Island and ultra-wide camera. The iPhone 15, at slightly higher pricing, supports UWB and modern charging. Alternatives include the Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S24, with competitive features like 120Hz displays and advanced cameras. The Razr 50 and OnePlus 12R offer additional choices for users seeking variety.
The iPhone SE has officially been retired, making way for the iPhone e! This might be a disappointing turn of events for those who appreciated the SE for being the smallest and most affordable iPhone. What’s next?
The Apple iPhone 16e matches the size of the 16 and is nearly as pricey, starting at £600/$600/€700/₹60,000 for the 128GB variant. Additionally, there are 256GB and 512GB options available, but they follow the same pricing strategy as Apple’s flagship models. Pre-orders for the 16e opened last Friday, with sales set to begin next week.
In summary, the 16e is equipped with a reduced version of the A18 chipset (featuring one less GPU core) and it fully accommodates Apple Intelligence. It boasts the 48MP primary camera of the iPhone 15, albeit without the ultra-wide option. The display is a traditional 6.1” OLED running at 60Hz, complete with a large notch for Face ID (and goodbye to Touch ID). The side has an Action button (without the Camera Control) and no alert slider. Do keep in mind that while it supports wireless charging (Qi, 7.5W), it does not support MagSafe, meaning you won’t have easy access to attachable chargers and accessories.
If you’re considering alternatives, the iPhone 16 is an option – it retails for £200 more than the 128GB model of the 16e, but it offers a more contemporary Dynamic Island design (still a 60Hz display), a 12MP ultra-wide camera, full MagSafe support, and UWB for smart tags (the 16e lacks UWB but has satellite messaging capabilities). We searched for refurbished iPhone 16 deals, but unfortunately, there aren’t any appealing offers currently available.
Apple continues to offer the iPhone 15 – it represents the first “modern” vanilla model, with features such as USB-C charging, a Dynamic Island, and a 48MP camera with in-sensor 2x zoom. This model incorporates the older A16 non-Pro chip, so it lacks Apple Intelligence (a significant drawback or an insignificant detail, your call). It does, however, support both MagSafe and UWB. The iPhone 15 can be purchased brand new for just £100 more than the 16e (both at 128GB).
So why choose a standard 15 over the iPhone 15 Pro? While Apple no longer sells the Pro models, refurbished options in excellent condition are still available. For instance, you can find a 128GB unit for about £640. The Pro model features a 120Hz display with Dynamic Island, in addition to a 48MP main camera, and both a 12MP telephoto and a 12MP ultra-wide camera, with the A17 Pro chipset providing full support for Apple’s AI, including Visual Intelligence AI.
We consider the iPhone 15 as the first “modern” vanilla model because the iPhone 14 lacks many upgrades standard on contemporary iPhones. However, the iPhone 14 Pro is a solid choice – just bear in mind it uses Lightning cables.
The iPhone 14 Pro features a 120Hz Dynamic Island display, along with a 48MP main camera, a 12MP 77mm telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera, plus UWB and MagSafe support, though it lacks Apple Intelligence. A refurbished version can be found at a much lower price than a 15 Pro, and it often comes with more storage.
If you’re open to exploring Android devices, the Google Pixel 9 is available at £650 for the 128GB model (after a £150 discount at checkout). It comes with a slightly higher price tag, but offers a 120Hz display (with a punch hole), a 50MP main camera, and an impressive 48MP ultra-wide camera. There’s no UWB on this phone, and the wireless charging lacks magnets, but it does support satellite messaging along with Google’s evolving AI features.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is still available, pricing around £600, and it comes bundled with a free pair of Galaxy Buds FE and a Galaxy Fit3 smartband. We’ll also take a look at the S25, which mainly adds extra RAM (12GB versus 8GB) and a new chipset (Snapdragon 8 Elite compared to 8 Gen 3).
The Samsung Galaxy S25 is priced at £700 after a £100 discount at checkout. It is comparable in size to the 16e, but features a 120Hz LTPO display with a punch hole camera. It supports Galaxy AI, however, it lacks UWB and satellite messaging capabilities, as well as magnets. Its camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor, a 10MP 67mm telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera.
Interestingly, you could also opt for a foldable device at the price of the 16e – the Razr 50 Ultra is available for £725 (with 512GB storage), while the standard Razr 50 (256GB) is priced exactly the same as the iPhone 16e. The Dimensity 7300X may fall short in terms of performance, but the 6.9” 120Hz LTPO inner and 3.6” cover displays are quite impressive. This model has a 50MP main camera and a 13MP ultra-wide sensor. The 4,200mAh battery supports 30W wired and 15W wireless charging (without magnets).
Stock is limited, but the OnePlus 12R can be acquired for £620. It features a large 6.78” display (120Hz LTPO), a 5,500mAh battery (with 100W wired charging), and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. While it does not have a telephoto lens, it offers a 50MP main camera and an 8MP ultra-wide camera.
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