Three years have passed between the release of the third-generation iPhone SE and the iPhone 16E, Apple's latest budget phone. That's a relatively long time for mobile developments to evolve -- and for the sticker price to rise alongside those improvements.

If you're confused about who the iPhone 16e is for, you're not alone — I know I won't be upgrading. I'm going to cut right to it. I should have been an easy sell for the iPhone SE 4, but I'm vehemently against the iPhone 16e.

The iPhone 16e features an OLED screen, the A18 chipset that supports Apple Intelligence, and other improvements to battery life and camera. The iPhone SE 3, on the other hand, is the last iPhone with the iconic "Home button" look though it lags modern offerings with its aging chip and camera.

If you’re an iPhone SE 3 user, check out what changes have been made and whether now is the time for an upgrade (hint: it is). With its introduction, the iPhone 16e is now the most affordable iPhone on the market.

Apple didn't simply change the expected iPhone SE 4 name to iPhone 16e — they're distinct product lines and all the data points to a strategy shift.

Following the iPhone 16e's release, the iPhone SE 3 has been discontinued. It was one of the last small phones of its kind.

The iPhone 16e starts at $599 for 128GB and will be available for preorder on February 21. The phone will be available on February 28. A 256GB version and a 512GB version will run you $699 and $899, respectively.

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.

Wondering whether the new iPhone 16e is a big upgrade over the 2022 iPhone SE? Here is our iPhone 16e vs iPhone SE 3 comparison.

But factor in the price increase, and it might be worth sitting this one out Apple has launched a new budget iPhone. Rather than discussing specifications or the price hike, the real question is whether the company's latest and cheapest can be repaired.