The iPhone 16e is the perfect iPhone for iPhone XR and XS upgraders.
Nothing is set in stone yet, but it seems highly likely that the XR and XS will not be getting iOS 19. It makes sense since iOS is rumored to get an all-new design, and usually an all-new design means older phones have to be left behind.
This makes it a perfect time to upgrade since you can be more up to date both in terms of hardware and software. Odds are if someone is still using an iPhone XR or XS, a 7-year old device, they aren’t really living on the cutting edge.
That is why the iPhone 16e is the perfect upgrade.
The benefits of upgrading from the XS to the 16e are just gobsmackingly insane. Here are just some of the benefits:
USB-C vs lightning.
Solid 48MP camera that will take better photos and videos than both 12MP lenses on the iPhone XS.
A brighter 6.1 inch screen that is a nice balance between the 5.8 inch and 6.5 inch iPhone XS and XS Max.
Same screen size, but smaller form factor than the XR.
Action Button vs the mute switch.
Equivalent wireless charging.
More responsive Face ID that works in landscape.
Huge boost in performance and speed.
Major iOS updates for at least 5 years.
The only downside? You get Apple Intelligence.
Nothing is set in stone yet, but it seems highly likely that the XR and XS will not be getting iOS 19. It makes sense since iOS is rumored to get an all-new design, and usually an all-new design means older phones have to be left behind.
This makes it a perfect time to upgrade since you can be more up to date both in terms of hardware and software. Odds are if someone is still using an iPhone XR or XS, a 7-year old device, they aren’t really living on the cutting edge.
That is why the iPhone 16e is the perfect upgrade.
The benefits of upgrading from the XS to the 16e are just gobsmackingly insane. Here are just some of the benefits:
USB-C vs lightning.
Solid 48MP camera that will take better photos and videos than both 12MP lenses on the iPhone XS.
A brighter 6.1 inch screen that is a nice balance between the 5.8 inch and 6.5 inch iPhone XS and XS Max.
Same screen size, but smaller form factor than the XR.
Action Button vs the mute switch.
Equivalent wireless charging.
More responsive Face ID that works in landscape.
Huge boost in performance and speed.
Major iOS updates for at least 5 years.
The only downside? You get Apple Intelligence.
The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max will not get iOS 19.
Juli Clover from MacRumors:
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past.
The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected to support iOS 19.
It will be the end of an era, as the XS and XS Max were the last iPhones to have 3D Touch support, a feature that was always hidden under the radar, but was a stealth pro feature for those who knew about it.
It was so stealth that the iPhone XR was the first iPhone to remove 3D Touch, but still became the best selling phone in 2019.
Juli Clover from MacRumors:
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past.
The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected to support iOS 19.
It will be the end of an era, as the XS and XS Max were the last iPhones to have 3D Touch support, a feature that was always hidden under the radar, but was a stealth pro feature for those who knew about it.
It was so stealth that the iPhone XR was the first iPhone to remove 3D Touch, but still became the best selling phone in 2019.
The iPhone 17 Pro’s exciting feature nobody is talking about.
The iPhone 17 Pro is rumored to have an aluminum chassis with a glass in-lay, and that could mean a special treat for Pro users:
More exciting colors.
The iPhone lost its color palette once it went Pro, sticking mainly with the standard black, white, and gold variants. We did get some different colors over the years, but nothing that really popped:
iPhone X - Black and White
iPhone XS - Gold was added - may be the most exciting color addition.
iPhone 11 Pro - Midnight Green - very muted in most lighting.
iPhone 12 Pro - Pacific Blue - black in many lighting conditions (I had it for a few weeks).
iPhone 13 Pro - Sierra Blue - truly amazing and my phone of choice for the year, but the back looked gray in certain lighting.
iPhone 14 Pro - Deep Purple - almost black in most lighting. I owned this color for a full year, and rarely would I see the purple color except in certain outdoor lighting conditions.
iPhone 15 Pro - Natural Titanium (gray) and Blue Titanium (almost black in most lighting).
iPhone 16 Pro - Desert Titanium - fancy name for a slight gold variation that we’ve seen since the iPhone XS.
Of all the special colors, the only one that stands out was Sierra Blue for the iPhone 13 Pro.
That’s it.
With the switch to aluminum, Apple can wow us with some more brighter color choices, and not just give them to the regular iPhone 17 or 17 Air.
One can only hope, but I’m optimistic.
I’m optimistic because even if we don’t get any new colors, there is a possibility that we could get a two-tone look to the iPhone, a look that we haven’t seen since the iPhone SE in 2016.
According to Wayne Ma from The Information (via MacRumors):
The rear of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will also feature a new part-aluminum, part-glass design. The top half of the back will be made of aluminum and feature a "rectangular camera bump made of aluminum rather than traditional 3D glass," while the bottom half will continue to be made of glass to support wireless charging…
The new design will constitute one of the most significant visual changes to the high-end iPhone models in recent years. The Information has an excellent track record for accurate Apple rumors, so the latest report is highly likely to pan out.
The iPhone SE was the last iPhone to have both glass and aluminum, and the last flagship to have a glass and aluminum back was the iPhone 5s in 2013.
If we can’t get bold new colors, at least a two-tone look would be a welcome addition to help spice up the iPhone Pro lineup.
The iPhone 17 Pro is rumored to have an aluminum chassis with a glass in-lay, and that could mean a special treat for Pro users:
More exciting colors.
The iPhone lost its color palette once it went Pro, sticking mainly with the standard black, white, and gold variants. We did get some different colors over the years, but nothing that really popped:
iPhone X - Black and White
iPhone XS - Gold was added - may be the most exciting color addition.
iPhone 11 Pro - Midnight Green - very muted in most lighting.
iPhone 12 Pro - Pacific Blue - black in many lighting conditions (I had it for a few weeks).
iPhone 13 Pro - Sierra Blue - truly amazing and my phone of choice for the year, but the back looked gray in certain lighting.
iPhone 14 Pro - Deep Purple - almost black in most lighting. I owned this color for a full year, and rarely would I see the purple color except in certain outdoor lighting conditions.
iPhone 15 Pro - Natural Titanium (gray) and Blue Titanium (almost black in most lighting).
iPhone 16 Pro - Desert Titanium - fancy name for a slight gold variation that we’ve seen since the iPhone XS.
Of all the special colors, the only one that stands out was Sierra Blue for the iPhone 13 Pro.
That’s it.
With the switch to aluminum, Apple can wow us with some more brighter color choices, and not just give them to the regular iPhone 17 or 17 Air.
One can only hope, but I’m optimistic.
I’m optimistic because even if we don’t get any new colors, there is a possibility that we could get a two-tone look to the iPhone, a look that we haven’t seen since the iPhone SE in 2016.
According to Wayne Ma from The Information (via MacRumors):
The rear of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will also feature a new part-aluminum, part-glass design. The top half of the back will be made of aluminum and feature a "rectangular camera bump made of aluminum rather than traditional 3D glass," while the bottom half will continue to be made of glass to support wireless charging…
The new design will constitute one of the most significant visual changes to the high-end iPhone models in recent years. The Information has an excellent track record for accurate Apple rumors, so the latest report is highly likely to pan out.
The iPhone SE was the last iPhone to have both glass and aluminum, and the last flagship to have a glass and aluminum back was the iPhone 5s in 2013.
If we can’t get bold new colors, at least a two-tone look would be a welcome addition to help spice up the iPhone Pro lineup.
iPhone SE (1st gen) is not compatible with the HomePod.
To the three people in the world who have a 1st gen iPhone SE and are trying to connect it to their HomePod mini, just wanted to let you know that you’re resilience is admirable, but you’re out of luck. 📓
Right now my wife uses my “old” iPhone 15 Pro Max as her white noise device connected to the HomePod mini, but I need that iPhone to be ready to be my new main device when WWDC comes along in June. The 16 Pro Max will be designated as my testing device.
The only other iPhone I have that I can use is my 1st gen iPhone SE on its latest software version of 15.8.3.
It wouldn’t connect to the HomePod, or any of my HomeKit devices. Turns out you need iOS or iPad OS 16.3 or later.
To the three people in the world who have a 1st gen iPhone SE and are trying to connect it to their HomePod mini, just wanted to let you know that you’re resilience is admirable, but you’re out of luck.
Apple still sells the iPhone 13 mini as a refurbished device.
Mark Gurman had a livestream today where he had bad news for iPhone mini lovers.
From MacRumors:
Gurman said that Apple currently has no plans to reintroduce a smaller iPhone model.
You didn’t need Mark Gurman to tell you this, but this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. If a device doesn’t sell to Apple’s standards, it won’t keep it on the market. On the flip side, Apple’s refurbished store does have the iPhone 13 mini in stock every once in a while, and it was on their site a few days ago (sold out right now).
If you really want one because you missed out earlier, or because your current 12 mini or 13 mini is on its last legs, keep refreshing the site and you might score one.
Just as a reminder, Apple’s refurbished devices are a great deal in my opinion. They do come at a higher price tag than other 3rd party resellers, but you essentially get a brand new iPhone with a full warranty.
From Apple’s website:
All refurbished iPhone models come with a new battery, a new outer shell, a one-year limited warranty, and free delivery and returns.
This also includes:
• Full functional testing, genuine Apple part replacements (if needed), and a thorough cleaning
• The original operating system or a more recent version
• All accessories and cables repackaged in a brand‑new box
Mark Gurman had a livestream today where he had bad news for iPhone mini lovers.
From MacRumors:
Gurman said that Apple currently has no plans to reintroduce a smaller iPhone model.
You didn’t need Mark Gurman to tell you this, but this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. If a device doesn’t sell to Apple’s standards, it won’t keep it on the market. On the flip side, Apple’s refurbished store does have the iPhone 13 mini in stock every once in a while, and it was on their site a few days ago (sold out right now).
If you really want one because you missed out earlier, or because your current 12 mini or 13 mini is on its last legs, keep refreshing the site and you might score one.
Just as a reminder, Apple’s refurbished devices are a great deal in my opinion. They do come at a higher price tag than other 3rd party resellers, but you essentially get a brand new iPhone with a full warranty.
From Apple’s website:
All refurbished iPhone models come with a new battery, a new outer shell, a one-year limited warranty, and free delivery and returns.
This also includes:
• Full functional testing, genuine Apple part replacements (if needed), and a thorough cleaning
• The original operating system or a more recent version
• All accessories and cables repackaged in a brand‑new box
AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss is now the only option for US iPhone buyers, at a higher price.
I always buy AppleCare+ for my iPhones, because I don’t like to use a case. As the famous saying goes:
AppleCare+ is my case.
Not sure who coined that phrase, but it’s true for many people.
I never bought the option for Theft and Loss because I didn’t feel the need for it, but now you have no choice. For reference, AppleCare+ for an iPhone 16 Pro used to be $200 for 2 years, and $250 with Theft and Loss. Now with Theft and Loss included, it costs $140 annually until cancelled, and $270 for 2 years. You also get the monthly option at $14/month.
That is $70 more for me and many others who opt for the 2 year plan. Yikes.
On a side note, look for another increase in Apple Services revenue in Fiscal Q2 2025.
I always buy AppleCare+ for my iPhones, because I don’t like to use a case. As the famous saying goes:
AppleCare+ is my case.
Not sure who coined that phrase, but it’s true for many people.
I never bought the option for Theft and Loss because I didn’t feel the need for it, but now you have no choice. For reference, AppleCare+ for an iPhone 16 Pro used to be $200 for 2 years, and $250 with Theft and Loss. Now with Theft and Loss included, it costs $140 annually until cancelled, and $270 for 2 years. You also get the monthly option at $14/month.
That is $70 more for me and many others who opt for the 2 year plan. Yikes.
On a side note, look for another increase in Apple Services revenue in Fiscal Q2 2025.
The most beautiful and (ab)used iPhone 13 mini.
Matt D’Avella posted a video a while back that I meant to post earlier, but it really is the most beautiful, (ab)used iPhone 13 mini. I was the proud owner of an iPhone 12 mini, and it was one of my favorite iPhone experiences. The clip in the beginning definitely has Evans Hankey’s iPhone vibes, and a quote from Jony Ive is just as fitting to Matt’s iPhone who treats his like a tool:
That’s Evans Hankey’s iPhone, who manages the design studio. Isn’t it cool? She destroys her objects. But I thought there was something so charming about that. I thought it was lovely to put that in. We design tools to be used. And she definitely uses them!
Matt D’Avella posted a video a while back that I meant to post earlier, but it really is the most beautiful, (ab)used iPhone 13 mini. I was the proud owner of an iPhone 12 mini, and it was one of my favorite iPhone experiences. The clip in the beginning definitely has Evans Hankey’s iPhone vibes, and a quote from Jony Ive is just as fitting to Matt’s iPhone who treats his like a tool:
That’s Evans Hankey’s iPhone, who manages the design studio. Isn’t it cool? She destroys her objects. But I thought there was something so charming about that. I thought it was lovely to put that in. We design tools to be used. And she definitely uses them!
The iPhone 17 lineup is the perfect time for Apple to upgrade MagSafe.
Apple debuted MagSafe back in October 2020 with the iPhone 12, and it has been in every major new iPhone since then. With the release of the iPhone 16e, Apple decided not to include MagSafe in this budget device. People have been prematurely speculating whether or not this is the end of MagSafe, but I would argue that now is the best time for Apple to give MagSafe a much needed upgrade.
Alongside the iPhone 12, Apple released the 12 Mini, which had a 5.4 inch display. That meant all MagSafe accessories had to accommodate the smaller 5.4 inch body, up to the 12 Pro Max’s 6.7 inch body. The lower size limit for MagSafe accessories was the 12 mini, and you could tell because Apple’s accessories such as the MagSafe wallet and the MagSafe Battery Pack fit flush with the device and wrapped around the corners perfectly. Apple’s smallest iPhone 17 display is rumored to start at 6.3 inches, which gives MagSafe more room to breathe.
The base iPhone 17 is rumored to be 6.3 inches, climbing up to 6.6 inches for the iPhone 17 Air, and topping off at 6.9 inches for the 17 Pro Max.
The charging coil diameter will probably not change since it is part of the Qi2 standard, but more magnets can be added in the bottom two-thirds of the iPhone to give accessories more stability, using the 6.3 inch iPhone as the new lower limit.
This can lead to a whole slew of new accessories, such as iPad-like folio cases, ultra-sturdy car mounts, and thinner battery packs.
Apple debuted MagSafe back in October 2020 with the iPhone 12, and it has been in every major new iPhone since then. With the release of the iPhone 16e, Apple decided not to include MagSafe in this budget device. People have been prematurely speculating whether or not this is the end of MagSafe, but I would argue that now is the best time for Apple to give MagSafe a much needed upgrade.
Alongside the iPhone 12, Apple released the 12 Mini, which had a 5.4 inch display. That meant all MagSafe accessories had to accommodate the smaller 5.4 inch body, up to the 12 Pro Max’s 6.7 inch body. The lower size limit for MagSafe accessories was the 12 mini, and you could tell because Apple’s accessories such as the MagSafe wallet and the MagSafe Battery Pack fit flush with the device and wrapped around the corners perfectly. Apple’s smallest iPhone 17 display is rumored to start at 6.3 inches, which gives MagSafe more room to breathe.
The base iPhone 17 is rumored to be 6.3 inches, climbing up to 6.6 inches for the iPhone 17 Air, and topping off at 6.9 inches for the 17 Pro Max.
The charging coil diameter will probably not change since it is part of the Qi2 standard, but more magnets can be added in the bottom two-thirds of the iPhone to give accessories more stability, using the 6.3 inch iPhone as the new lower limit.
This can lead to a whole slew of new accessories, such as iPad-like folio cases, ultra-sturdy car mounts, and thinner battery packs.
“MagSafe” cases for your iPhone 16e are not MagSafe, and will make your wireless charging experience even worse.
There is a simple reason why Apple didn’t include MagSafe magnets in their iPhone 16e cases:
It would be a classic blunder of over promising and under delivering.
The iPhone 16e does support Qi wireless charging which has a max output of 7.5W, while the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro can get 25W of wireless charging with MagSafe.
Having those circular magnets will give people the illusion that they have faster MagSafe charging, but they will realize that not only is it charging slowly, it might not be charging their iPhone at all.
I’m going through a similar situation at my house with my kids’ iPhone SE 2nd gen. I bought a circular magnet and glued it to the iPhone right where the coil is, but sometimes the phone won’t charge, even though it’s sitting magnetically on an official Apple MagSafe puck. It’ll start charging, but then stop randomly. When it is charging, it is very slow. This is all being done without a case which is the most efficient way of charging wirelessly.
Don’t just take my word for it, because MKBHD discusses his wireless charging experience with the iPhone 16e:
This week I had it on my desk charger for like 1/2 an hour and it gained zero percent (laughing) while just getting warmer. I don’t have to remind you of the downsides of early wireless charging.
The tech enthusiast doesn’t need a reminder of how bad 1st generation Qi wireless charging was (and still is), but the average person buying the 16e needs that reminder more than ever.
It will objectively be a disadvantage for charging speeds because the case adds an extra barrier that power has to travel through from the charger to the iPhone, generating more heat in the process. That excess heat will eventually cause the battery to either charge slowly, or stop charging completely.
Any case company that tells you it provides MagSafe charging with the iPhone 16e is technically lying.
Real MagSafe, which is available on the iPhone 12 and newer (except for the SE and 16e), is more than just magnets aligning the charging coils. There is communication between the magnetic puck and the phone, ramping up charging speeds and slowing them down depending on many factors such as current battery level, device temperature, and the power adapter being used for charging. The goal is to provide faster wireless charging without destroying the battery’s health.
It’s called MagSafe for a reason.
If you do want to buy a magnetic case for your iPhone 16e, just remember not to rely on it for fast charging. Use it for the other conveniences that it will give you, such as propping it up on your desk, your car, or to slap on a wallet magnetically.
If I were buying this phone, I would buy a magnetic case and use it with these accessories that I currently own (not sponsored or affiliated):
These are not chargers, but they are convenient holders that make life easier.
There is a simple reason why Apple didn’t include MagSafe magnets in their iPhone 16e cases:
It would be a classic blunder of over promising and under delivering.
The iPhone 16e does support Qi wireless charging which has a max output of 7.5W, while the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro can get 25W of wireless charging with MagSafe.
Having those circular magnets will give people the illusion that they have faster MagSafe charging, but they will realize that not only is it charging slowly, it might not be charging their iPhone at all.
I’m going through a similar situation at my house with my kids’ iPhone SE 2nd gen. I bought a circular magnet and glued it to the iPhone right where the coil is, but sometimes the phone won’t charge, even though it’s sitting magnetically on an official Apple MagSafe puck. It’ll start charging, but then stop randomly. When it is charging, it is very slow. This is all being done without a case which is the most efficient way of charging wirelessly.
Don’t just take my word for it, because MKBHD discusses his wireless charging experience with the iPhone 16e:
This week I had it on my desk charger for like 1/2 an hour and it gained zero percent (laughing) while just getting warmer. I don’t have to remind you of the downsides of early wireless charging.
The tech enthusiast doesn’t need a reminder of how bad 1st generation Qi wireless charging was (and still is), but the average person buying the 16e needs that reminder more than ever.
It will objectively be a disadvantage for charging speeds because the case adds an extra barrier that power has to travel through from the charger to the iPhone, generating more heat in the process. That excess heat will eventually cause the battery to either charge slowly, or stop charging completely.
Any case company that tells you it provides MagSafe charging with the iPhone 16e is technically lying.
Real MagSafe, which is available on the iPhone 12 and newer (except for the SE and 16e), is more than just magnets aligning the charging coils. There is communication between the magnetic puck and the phone, ramping up charging speeds and slowing them down depending on many factors such as current battery level, device temperature, and the power adapter being used for charging. The goal is to provide faster wireless charging without destroying the battery’s health.
It’s called MagSafe for a reason.
If you do want to buy a magnetic case for your iPhone 16e, just remember not to rely on it for fast charging. Use it for the other conveniences that it will give you, such as propping it up on your desk, your car, or to slap on a wallet magnetically.
If I were buying this phone, I would buy a magnetic case and use it with these accessories that I currently own (not sponsored or affiliated):
These are not chargers, but they are convenient holders that make life easier.
Will the iPhone 17 Pro finally get a Pro camera app?
Mark Gurman in his Power On Newsletter:
The iPhone 17 line is shaping up to be a significant upgrade, particularly for the Pro models. In past years, Apple has focused more heavily on the camera’s photo-taking abilities. This year it will stress improvements to video recording. One of the goals for 2025’s iPhone line is to get the vlogging community and other video creators to move away from standalone cameras and use the iPhone for even more of their work. Look for Apple to more heavily than ever tout these video recording capabilities when the new iPhones debut in September.
If Apple really wants bloggers and video creators to move away from standalone cameras, they need to give its Pro users full camera controls, with white balance, ISO, actual lens selection, etc. Currently we have the illusion of lens selection, but Apple decides based on its algorithm whether or not to use a digital zoom vs switching to the telephoto lens.
On the 15 and 16 Pro for example, if you want to use the 5x zoom in medium to low light, the iPhone will use the 1x lens, and digitally zoom in to 5x, giving you a huge loss in detail. Sometimes the software switches back and forth between digitally zooming at 5x vs switching to the 5x telephoto lens, again trying to decide which is best for the user. This is frustrating to say the least.
On top of that, I’m sure vloggers would love the ability to record front and rear facing video at the same time, with their face inlaid with whatever footage they’re taking. Top that off with a CapCut like editing features like auto-captions, and people will happily pay for higher-priced iPhones.
Mark Gurman in his Power On Newsletter:
The iPhone 17 line is shaping up to be a significant upgrade, particularly for the Pro models. In past years, Apple has focused more heavily on the camera’s photo-taking abilities. This year it will stress improvements to video recording. One of the goals for 2025’s iPhone line is to get the vlogging community and other video creators to move away from standalone cameras and use the iPhone for even more of their work. Look for Apple to more heavily than ever tout these video recording capabilities when the new iPhones debut in September.
If Apple really wants bloggers and video creators to move away from standalone cameras, they need to give its Pro users full camera controls, with white balance, ISO, actual lens selection, etc. Currently we have the illusion of lens selection, but Apple decides based on its algorithm whether or not to use a digital zoom vs switching to the telephoto lens.
On the 15 and 16 Pro for example, if you want to use the 5x zoom in medium to low light, the iPhone will use the 1x lens, and digitally zoom in to 5x, giving you a huge loss in detail. Sometimes the software switches back and forth between digitally zooming at 5x vs switching to the 5x telephoto lens, again trying to decide which is best for the user. This is frustrating to say the least.
On top of that, I’m sure vloggers would love the ability to record front and rear facing video at the same time, with their face inlaid with whatever footage they’re taking. Top that off with a CapCut like editing features like auto-captions, and people will happily pay for higher-priced iPhones.
How not to describe the iPhone 16e.
It is the same size as an iPhone 14.
It has USB-C like an iPhone 15, but wirelessly charges like an iPhone SE.
It has the same screen as an iPhone 14, which has the brightness of an iPhone 12 Pro, but the notch of the iPhone 13.
It has the same processor as the iPhone 16, but the same amount of GPU cores as an iPhone 13.
The back camera is almost the same as the iPhone 16, but it takes portraits like an iPhone 12.
But don’t worry, the selfie camera is the same as the iPhone 16.
It is the same size as an iPhone 14.
It has USB-C like an iPhone 15, but wirelessly charges like an iPhone SE.
It has the same screen as an iPhone 14, which has the brightness of an iPhone 12 Pro, but the notch of the iPhone 13.
It has the same processor as the iPhone 16, but the same amount of GPU cores as an iPhone 13.
The back camera is almost the same as the iPhone 16, but it takes portraits like an iPhone 12.
But don’t worry, the selfie camera is the same as the iPhone 16.
The iPhone 16E will be Apple’s new “buffered” iPhone.
Tim Cook on Twitter:
Get ready to meet the newest member of the family.
Wednesday, February 19. #AppleLaunch
I’ve been thinking about this (probably too much,) but I don’t think it will be a new iPhone SE.
As a matter of fact, I think the SE lineup will be killed off.
What we will probably get is a new variant of the iPhone 16, rumored to be the iPhone 16E. This makes perfect sense for several reasons.
The iPhone SE lineup has defining features that make it an SE, the biggest two being the classic top and bottom bezels and the Home Button. If you get rid of both of those, you might as well get rid of the name too since it won’t make sense. People have associated the SE branding with those two hallmark features.
I know what you’re thinking. Apple has transformed many other devices and kept the same name, but in this case, pricing is a huge factor.
The 16E will have to support Apple Intelligence since Apple is heavily pushing it, meaning it will have an A17 Pro or A18 chip. Putting a faster chip in an iPhone SE model that beats the iPhone 15 in performance, and pricing it lower than that is nonsensical. If this device is part of the 16 lineup as the 16E, it becomes easy to make the price higher than the SE, but lower than the regular 16. I think it will take the place of the iPhone 15 and start at $699.
So now you have the following price points:
iPhone 16 Pro Max - $1,199 (starts at 256GB)
iPhone 16 Pro - $999
iPhone 16 Plus - $899
iPhone 16 - $799
iPhone 16E - $699
iPhone 15 Plus - $699
iPhone 15 - $599
The iPhone 14 and SE will be discontinued like in the EU, and the starting iPhone price takes a huge jump up from $429 to $599. I don’t think that’s a real shocker even though the click-bait headlines will definitely scream, “Apple raises lowest iPhone price by 40%.”
Seriously though, who really is buying the iPhone SE these days? I’m sure most people are being upsold into the iPhone 14 which is leagues better than the SE, making the real starting price of an iPhone as of today, $599.
Tim’s headline, “newest member of the family,” sounds like a whole new branding, and I think the “E” lineup of iPhones will fall in-line with the “A” line of Pixel phones.
The “E” lineup of iPhones also doesn’t have to be refreshed every year. It will be like the SE, acting like a price buffer to accommodate for technological advancements, laws and regulations, consumer demand, and company performance.
This is my speculation for this coming Wednesday.
Tim Cook on Twitter:
Get ready to meet the newest member of the family.
Wednesday, February 19. #AppleLaunch
I’ve been thinking about this (probably too much,) but I don’t think it will be a new iPhone SE.
As a matter of fact, I think the SE lineup will be killed off.
What we will probably get is a new variant of the iPhone 16, rumored to be the iPhone 16E. This makes perfect sense for several reasons.
The iPhone SE lineup has defining features that make it an SE, the biggest two being the classic top and bottom bezels and the Home Button. If you get rid of both of those, you might as well get rid of the name too since it won’t make sense. People have associated the SE branding with those two hallmark features.
I know what you’re thinking. Apple has transformed many other devices and kept the same name, but in this case, pricing is a huge factor.
The 16E will have to support Apple Intelligence since Apple is heavily pushing it, meaning it will have an A17 Pro or A18 chip. Putting a faster chip in an iPhone SE model that beats the iPhone 15 in performance, and pricing it lower than that is nonsensical. If this device is part of the 16 lineup as the 16E, it becomes easy to make the price higher than the SE, but lower than the regular 16. I think it will take the place of the iPhone 15 and start at $699.
So now you have the following price points:
iPhone 16 Pro Max - $1,199 (starts at 256GB)
iPhone 16 Pro - $999
iPhone 16 Plus - $899
iPhone 16 - $799
iPhone 16E - $699
iPhone 15 Plus - $699
iPhone 15 - $599
The iPhone 14 and SE will be discontinued like in the EU, and the starting iPhone price takes a huge jump up from $429 to $599. I don’t think that’s a real shocker even though the click-bait headlines will definitely scream, “Apple raises lowest iPhone price by 40%.”
Seriously though, who really is buying the iPhone SE these days? I’m sure most people are being upsold into the iPhone 14 which is leagues better than the SE, making the real starting price of an iPhone as of today, $599.
Tim’s headline, “newest member of the family,” sounds like a whole new branding, and I think the “E” lineup of iPhones will fall in-line with the “A” line of Pixel phones.
The “E” lineup of iPhones also doesn’t have to be refreshed every year. It will be like the SE, acting like a price buffer to accommodate for technological advancements, laws and regulations, consumer demand, and company performance.
This is my speculation for this coming Wednesday.
An Apple Watch, a MacBook, and an iPhone all for less than $300?
Saw Luke Miani’s recent video, and it is a compelling ecosystem for a young adult. I’m talking about a late tween or early teenager, especially if they’re homeschooled and their current laptop is a Chromebook that makes the original MacBook Air screen look like a Retina display.
Yes, it’s that bad.
The fact that a 5 year old watch, a 10 year old laptop, and an almost 3 year old phone can still communicate with each other just seems incredible. It shouldn’t really surprise me since I’ve been using an 11 year old laptop that communicates with the newest iPhone and Apple Watch for logging in and Apple Pay.
Saw Luke Miani’s recent video, and it is a compelling ecosystem for a young adult. I’m talking about a late tween or early teenager, especially if they’re homeschooled and their current laptop is a Chromebook that makes the original MacBook Air screen look like a Retina display.
Yes, it’s that bad.
The fact that a 5 year old watch, a 10 year old laptop, and an almost 3 year old phone can still communicate with each other just seems incredible. It shouldn’t really surprise me since I’ve been using an 11 year old laptop that communicates with the newest iPhone and Apple Watch for logging in and Apple Pay.
iPhone SE supply is dwindling.
Joe Rossignol from MacRumors:
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said iPhone SE inventory is "quickly" dwindling at a "large number" of Apple Store locations in the U.S., and he believes this is a "reliable sign" that a new model is on the horizon.
The current iPhone SE is still available to order on Apple's online store.
The current iPhone SE looks similar to the iPhone 8, with outdated features such as a Touch ID button, Lightning port, and thick bezels around the display. Pricing starts at $429, but at least a slight price increase seems probable for the next model.
Looks like the iPhone SE 3rd gen is on its way out, and if you really wanted one, now is the time to get it. A classic and a collectible down the line. You’ll be able to tell your grandkids about the “old days,” when you had to press a button to go to your Home Screen.
Joe Rossignol from MacRumors:
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said iPhone SE inventory is "quickly" dwindling at a "large number" of Apple Store locations in the U.S., and he believes this is a "reliable sign" that a new model is on the horizon.
The current iPhone SE is still available to order on Apple's online store.
The current iPhone SE looks similar to the iPhone 8, with outdated features such as a Touch ID button, Lightning port, and thick bezels around the display. Pricing starts at $429, but at least a slight price increase seems probable for the next model.
Looks like the iPhone SE 3rd gen is on its way out, and if you really wanted one, now is the time to get it. A classic and a collectible down the line. You’ll be able to tell your grandkids about the “old days,” when you had to press a button to go to your Home Screen.
Nokia’s internal presentation to the iPhone announcement in 2007.
The Nokia Design Archive was opened to the public on January 15, 2025, and it has some interesting, previously confidential documents, including a reaction to the iPhone launch with a presentation titled:
Apple iPhone was launched (yes, it is “iPhone” *)
The asterisk led to the footnote:
*) Apple has agreed with Cisco on using the name, details not known.
We don’t know the details either, but let’s just say Apple got the better end of that deal.
The title sounds like they're mocking the iPhone, but the presentation tells a story of panic, fear, and stiff competition.
Not sure if this presentation should be in their Design Archive, but seeing references to the S60 Symbian OS and other Nokia phones was nostalgic.
This is as close to being a fly on the wall you could have been in Nokia’s executive meeting.
Full PDF of presentation in case they take it down.
The Nokia Design Archive was opened to the public on January 15, 2025, and it has some interesting, previously confidential documents, including a reaction to the iPhone launch with a presentation titled:
Apple iPhone was launched (yes, it is “iPhone” *)
The asterisk led to the footnote:
*) Apple has agreed with Cisco on using the name, details not known.
We don’t know the details either, but let’s just say Apple got the better end of that deal.
The title sounds like they're mocking the iPhone, but the presentation tells a story of panic, fear, and stiff competition.
Not sure if this presentation should be in their Design Archive, but seeing references to the S60 Symbian OS and other Nokia phones was nostalgic.
This is as close to being a fly on the wall you could have been in Nokia’s executive meeting.
Full PDF of presentation in case they take it down.
Which iPhones have Face ID that work in landscape?
I watch a decent amount of videos on my iPhone, and there’s nothing worse than trying to unlock your iPhone in landscape with an iPhone that doesn’t support Face ID in landscape.
You have to do that tilt gesture with your head while looking like an idiot to unlock your phone, or you have to turn your phone back to portrait mode to unlock it. You can also meet in the middle and do a slight head tilt and turn your phone at the same time, but the problem is you're eating fried chicken, and your hands are covered in refined oils.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
To avoid this, make sure you buy an iPhone that supports Face ID in landscape. Any iPhone 13 or later model on iOS 16 or later will support it.
I watch a decent amount of videos on my iPhone, and there’s nothing worse than trying to unlock your iPhone in landscape with an iPhone that doesn’t support Face ID in landscape.
You have to do that tilt gesture with your head while looking like an idiot to unlock your phone, or you have to turn your phone back to portrait mode to unlock it. You can also meet in the middle and do a slight head tilt and turn your phone at the same time, but the problem is you're eating fried chicken, and your hands are covered in refined oils.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
To avoid this, make sure you buy an iPhone that supports Face ID in landscape. Any iPhone 13 or later model on iOS 16 or later will support it.
How to make your iPhone Passcode more secure without changing it.
Apple released Stolen Device Protection (SDP) in response to criminals successfully ruining people’s lives by using an iPhone’s password to reset the victim’s iCloud password.
In 2023 the New York Times did a report on this new tactic, summarized on TidBITS:
Watch the video, but in short, a ne’er-do-well gets someone in a bar to enter their iPhone passcode while they surreptitiously observe (or a partner does it for them). Then the thief steals the iPhone and dashes off. Within minutes, the thief has used the passcode to gain access to the iPhone and change the Apple ID password, which enables them to disable Find My, make purchases using Apple Pay, gain access to passwords stored in iCloud Keychain, and scan through Photos for pictures of documents that contain a Social Security number or other details that could be used for identity theft. After that, they may transfer money from bank accounts, apply for an Apple Card, and more, all while the user is completely locked out of their account.
And yes, they’ll wipe and resell the iPhone too. Almost no crimes like this have been reported by Android users, with a police officer speculating that it was because the resale value of Android phones is lower. In the video, Joanna Stern said a thief with the passcode to an Android phone could perform similar feats of identity and financial theft.
Apple’s response? Stolen Device Protection:
With Stolen Device Protection, some features and actions have additional security requirements when your iPhone is away from familiar locations such as home or work. These requirements help prevent someone who has stolen your device and knows your passcode from making critical changes to your account or device.
• Face ID or Touch ID biometric authentication: Some actions such as accessing stored passwords and credit cards require a single biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID — with no passcode alternative or fallback — so that only you can access these features.
• Security Delay: Some security actions such as changing your Apple Account password also require you to wait an hour and then perform a second Face ID or Touch ID authentication.
In the event that your iPhone is stolen, the security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure.
Thieves can still come after you if they see you entering your passcode because they’re hoping you don’t have this feature enabled, or they might not be aware of it themselves.
The goal shouldn’t be to prevent thieves from breaking into your accounts and your life, the goal is to prevent them from taking your iPhone in the first place. Even if you have all the safety measures in place and your phone gets swiped, you’re still without a phone, which will be expensive to replace and will take hours to get everything synced up again.
The best way to stop this is to hide your password when typing it in, but sometimes we might be in a hurry and forget to keep our guard up. Not to mention this type of attack is common in bars, so your guard is already lowered.
The next best thing? Change your password to an alphanumeric one.
You don’t have to actually change your password, but you do have to add something at the end of it. Like a period.
Say your passcode was “090708”. You can change your passcode and add a period, so your password is now “090708.” If the potential thief does see you entering your passcode, they will see the alphanumeric keyboard and will be more likely to skip past you because it’s almost impossible to really see what someone is typing. The keyboard is small enough, even on the Pro Max models, that your “fat finger” will obscure what you’re typing, compared to the huge numeric keypad.
It also helps to turn off haptics when typing in your code since people can’t hear how long your password is.
Over time, you’ll actually get faster at typing the alphanumeric code since it is all number based, but no one would know you would do such a thing…unless they read my blog.
I tried to be even slicker and just keep the exact same password even though I selected an alphanumeric option and keyboard, but the iPhone defaults back to a numeric keypad, so I had to add the period.
Apple released Stolen Device Protection (SDP) in response to criminals successfully ruining people’s lives by using an iPhone’s password to reset the victim’s iCloud password.
In 2023 the New York Times did a report on this new tactic, summarized on TidBITS:
Watch the video, but in short, a ne’er-do-well gets someone in a bar to enter their iPhone passcode while they surreptitiously observe (or a partner does it for them). Then the thief steals the iPhone and dashes off. Within minutes, the thief has used the passcode to gain access to the iPhone and change the Apple ID password, which enables them to disable Find My, make purchases using Apple Pay, gain access to passwords stored in iCloud Keychain, and scan through Photos for pictures of documents that contain a Social Security number or other details that could be used for identity theft. After that, they may transfer money from bank accounts, apply for an Apple Card, and more, all while the user is completely locked out of their account.
And yes, they’ll wipe and resell the iPhone too. Almost no crimes like this have been reported by Android users, with a police officer speculating that it was because the resale value of Android phones is lower. In the video, Joanna Stern said a thief with the passcode to an Android phone could perform similar feats of identity and financial theft.
Apple’s response? Stolen Device Protection:
With Stolen Device Protection, some features and actions have additional security requirements when your iPhone is away from familiar locations such as home or work. These requirements help prevent someone who has stolen your device and knows your passcode from making critical changes to your account or device.
• Face ID or Touch ID biometric authentication: Some actions such as accessing stored passwords and credit cards require a single biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID — with no passcode alternative or fallback — so that only you can access these features.
• Security Delay: Some security actions such as changing your Apple Account password also require you to wait an hour and then perform a second Face ID or Touch ID authentication.
In the event that your iPhone is stolen, the security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure.
Thieves can still come after you if they see you entering your passcode because they’re hoping you don’t have this feature enabled, or they might not be aware of it themselves.
The goal shouldn’t be to prevent thieves from breaking into your accounts and your life, the goal is to prevent them from taking your iPhone in the first place. Even if you have all the safety measures in place and your phone gets swiped, you’re still without a phone, which will be expensive to replace and will take hours to get everything synced up again.
The best way to stop this is to hide your password when typing it in, but sometimes we might be in a hurry and forget to keep our guard up. Not to mention this type of attack is common in bars, so your guard is already lowered.
The next best thing? Change your password to an alphanumeric one.
You don’t have to actually change your password, but you do have to add something at the end of it. Like a period.
Say your passcode was “090708”. You can change your passcode and add a period, so your password is now “090708.” If the potential thief does see you entering your passcode, they will see the alphanumeric keyboard and will be more likely to skip past you because it’s almost impossible to really see what someone is typing. The keyboard is small enough, even on the Pro Max models, that your “fat finger” will obscure what you’re typing, compared to the huge numeric keypad.
It also helps to turn off haptics when typing in your code since people can’t hear how long your password is.
Over time, you’ll actually get faster at typing the alphanumeric code since it is all number based, but no one would know you would do such a thing…unless they read my blog.
I tried to be even slicker and just keep the exact same password even though I selected an alphanumeric option and keyboard, but the iPhone defaults back to a numeric keypad, so I had to add the period.
You’re using it too much.
Ten tips from MacRumors for saving battery life on your iPhone, but I have one more:
Stop using it too much.
Touch some grass, bruh.
Ten tips from MacRumors for saving battery life on your iPhone, but I have one more:
Stop using it too much.
Touch some grass, bruh.
Camera Control comes in for the win (for once).
Yesterday was the first time I really appreciated Camera Control on the iPhone 16.
I have to set the scenario for you to really appreciate it:
It was below freezing outside, and I was standing on a hilly, icy surface at an angle, trying to take videos of my kids. Not in any danger, but still easy to slip and take a small fall. I’m really sensitive to cold and had to wear gloves. The gloves had capacitive tips for both the thumb and pointer finger allowing for touch screen operation.
Even with the capacitive gloves, it was a challenge to navigate the touchscreen due to my new artificial problem of having fat fingers. I still had to use the screen to switch to video mode which was a bit cumbersome, but for other controls, I used Camera Control.
The problem with taking pictures and videos in the snow is the camera sees all the white snow and ice and underexposes the shot, thinking the scene is too bright. That leads to a slurry of underexposed, underwhelming videos. I had to adjust the exposure throughout my memory capturing journey to get the whites to pop just right.
I could have made exposure adjustments with the touch screen, but “fat glove fingers” are not the best. Camera Control was perfect for this situation, and swiping with my gloves was effortless and dare I say, satisfying.
Zooming in and out was also easy to do without having to resort to the touch screen.
As satisfying as it was to benefit from the Camera Control button, let’s see how often I use it when winter is over…
Yesterday was the first time I really appreciated Camera Control on the iPhone 16.
I have to set the scenario for you to really appreciate it:
It was below freezing outside, and I was standing on a hilly, icy surface at an angle, trying to take videos of my kids. Not in any danger, but still easy to slip and take a small fall. I’m really sensitive to cold and had to wear gloves. The gloves had capacitive tips for both the thumb and pointer finger allowing for touch screen operation.
Even with the capacitive gloves, it was a challenge to navigate the touchscreen due to my new artificial problem of having fat fingers. I still had to use the screen to switch to video mode which was a bit cumbersome, but for other controls, I used Camera Control.
The problem with taking pictures and videos in the snow is the camera sees all the white snow and ice and underexposes the shot, thinking the scene is too bright. That leads to a slurry of underexposed, underwhelming videos. I had to adjust the exposure throughout my memory capturing journey to get the whites to pop just right.
I could have made exposure adjustments with the touch screen, but “fat glove fingers” are not the best. Camera Control was perfect for this situation, and swiping with my gloves was effortless and dare I say, satisfying.
Zooming in and out was also easy to do without having to resort to the touch screen.
As satisfying as it was to benefit from the Camera Control button, let’s see how often I use it when winter is over…
Watching the original iPhone launch event with the next generation.
It’s hard for kids to imagine a world where smartphones don’t exist, especially if they were born after 2012.
The original iPhone event in hindsight is quite funny to watch and even condescending to kids because Steve Jobs was explaining how to use a multi-touch screen, something that was science fiction in 2007 for most people, yet is as natural as air in 2024.
It’s funny to just watch your kids reacting to people being oohed and aahed by something they take for granted.
Three of my favorite clips of the original launch:
“And to unlock the phone I just take my finger and slide it across.”
It’s hard for kids to imagine a world where smartphones don’t exist, especially if they were born after 2012.
The original iPhone event in hindsight is quite funny to watch and even condescending to kids because Steve Jobs was explaining how to use a multi-touch screen, something that was science fiction in 2007 for most people, yet is as natural as air in 2024.
It’s funny to just watch your kids reacting to people being oohed and aahed by something they take for granted.
Three of my favorite clips of the original launch:
“And to unlock the phone I just take my finger and slide it across.”