iPhone 16e is making a shocking debut: Apple’s smart support, can $599 be recaptured by the Chinese market?

Apple recently revealed the iPhone 16e. This device, considered an upgraded version of the fourth-generation iPhone SE, abandoned the "SE" name and packaged the iPhone 16 family at a starting price of $599. It will be available for pre-orders on February 21 and shipped on February 28 with limited but high-performance users.

The core highlight of the iPhone 16e is Apple Intelligence, a locally run AI technology that generates text, images and optimizes interactions. Powered by the A18 processor, this feature is the same as the iPhone 16 Ultimate, ensuring strong performance. It also first uses Apple's self-developed C1 to evade its dependence on Qualcomm and support Apple's silicon chip ambitions.

In terms of design, the iPhone 16e bids farewell to Touch ID, is compatible with Face ID and USB-C interfaces, is equipped with a 6.1-inch OLED display, with a battery life of 12 hours more than the previous generation SE, and has the best hardware of 6.1-inch iPhone. The camera has been upgraded to a 48-megapixel rear lens, supports 2x zoom, and the front-facing TrueDepth camera improves the unlocking experience.

However, the price of $599 is $100 higher than the previous generation, and Apple Smart has not yet been launched in mainland China, which casts a shadow on Apple's prospects in the Chinese market. Faced with fierce competition from domestic mobile phones such as Huawei, Apple is negotiating with Tencent and ByteDance, hoping to introduce localized AI services to regain competitiveness in key markets such as China and India.

Can the iPhone 16e counterattack with technological upgrades and precise counterattacks? The answer may be revealed after shipment.