After months of anticipation, Apple finally unveiled its latest smartphone to the world last night.
The iPhone 16e is Apple’s latest ‘budget’ smartphone, with prices starting at just £599/$599.
The new device runs Apple Intelligence features, including a ChatGPT integration with smart assistant Siri.
It also includes a 6.1-inch display, a two-in-one camera system, an ‘extraordinary’ battery life, and the return of the ‘notch’ at the top of the display.
While the focus has been on the new device, several eagle-eyed Apple fans have noticed that three popular devices have been quietly discontinued.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, the iPhone SE (3rd generation) has disappeared from the Apple Store, having been gazumped by the iPhone 16e.
However, two more recent devices have also quietly been removed – the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
Several shocked fans have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to discuss the news, with one writing: ‘Wow the 14s already?!!?’
After months of anticipation, Apple finally unveiled its latest smartphone to the world last night. The iPhone 16e is Apple’s latest ‘budget’ smartphone, with prices starting at just £599/$599
Two more recent devices have also quietly been removed – the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus
While Apple has not formally announced the discontinuation of the devices, all three have now been removed from the Apple Store.
MailOnline tried to compare these models on the site and discovered a message stating that they are now ‘available at authorised resellers.’
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus went on sale less than three years ago, and quickly became some of Apple’s best-selling devices.
Before it was discontinued, the iPhone 14 was on sale for £599/$599 – the same price as the new iPhone 16e.
Apple has never sold two iPhones at the same starting price, so it seems the iPhone 16e has taken the iPhone 14’s spot in Apple’s smartphone lineup.
What’s more, the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and the iPhone SE 3 all feature the old Lightning charging port.
Since the iPhone 15 launched in 2023, Apple has switched to USB-C, amid pressure from the EU for a more universal charger.
Having learned of the discontinuation, several fans have taken to X.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, the iPhone SE (3rd generation) has disappeared from the Apple Store, having been gazumped by the iPhone 16e
‘They’d have to stop selling the 14 because the 14 are better than what they put out,’ one user tweeted.
Another added: ‘WHY SO FAST???’
And one joked: ‘so …. they remade the 14 but with one camera this time and took the og out because its the same thing but cheaper? bc the 14 is still fairly new-‘
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iPhone 16e is the latest in Apple’s ‘budget’ line of smartphones, which until now has been known as ‘iPhone SE’ (Special Edition).
The new handset had been heavily leaked leading up to the official reveal on Wednesday, although the change in name came as something of a surprise.
‘iPhone 16e packs in the features our users love about the iPhone 16 lineup, including breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, and Apple Intelligence,’ said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of worldwide iPhone product marketing.
‘We’re so excited for iPhone 16e to complete the lineup as a powerful, more affordable option to bring the iPhone experience to even more people.’
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1 1976 as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market.
Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh February 6, 1984 in California.
1981: Jobs became chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.
1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.
The then Chief Executive Officer of Apple, Steve Jobs, with the iPhone
2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.
2007: Apple unveils the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was unveiled.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones – the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner’s face.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.
2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers.
2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.
2020: In March, Apple closes all its bricks and mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus.
2021: In an online virtual event in April CEO Tim Cook declared Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year the iPhone 13 was announced.
2022: In September the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash as well as an improved camera system.
2023: Apple brought back its ‘Home Pod’ after the first generation was discontinued. The ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home as it is powered by voice commands.
2024: Apple makes its first steps into artificial intelligence with the release of Apple Intelligence. The features are not all released at once with many delayed until the following year.
