Apple has officially unveiled its latest iPhone, and it's not quite what we expected. While rumours pointed toward an iPhone SE4, we instead got the iPhone 16e which now serves as Apple's entry-level model for the latest iPhone generation.
It's got big shoes to fill, as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro scored top marks for picture and sound, so an affordable entry into the line that could bring this impressive performance down in price is certainly cause for excitement.
So, now we know that the iPhone 16e is official, will it take the budget smartphone market by storm? And more importantly, where are new AirPods and HomePods?
What we’re expecting from the iPhone SE 4
The iPhone SE 4 is the main item most analysts expect to appear today. There’s been a steady stream of rumours about Apple planning to launch a new mid-range handset ahead of the fabled iPhone 17 line of handsets arrival later in the year. The latest rumours suggest, like past SE-series phones, the SE 4 will be an upgraded version of one of Apple’s older flagships. Specifically, it’s expected to be a modified version of the 2022 iPhone 14 (picture above).
This suggests it will be larger than past SE phones, measuring in at around 6.1-inches. The only other big upgrades of note we’re taking seriously included in the pre–event leaks suggest it will have an OLED panel and feature the same A18 chipset seen in the iPhone 16 range of phones. The latter has an overt focus on Apple intelligence (AI), which focusses on improving things like picture processing and general performance.
If done well the move to OLED will be good news for people that watch TV shows, or even YouTube on their phone. Music fans may be disappointed at the lack of obvious audio improvements, but it's important to remember the iPhone 14 was a great portable music player, by phone standards. So it will hopefully still be competitive, especially if it’s priced competitively.
Will there be new HomePods?
There are lots of conflicting rumours circling about Apple’s speaker plans this year. Some people suggest a reworked HomePod 3 is set to debut, but not until much later in the year. The latest credible report came from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes it will launch between July and September – in the same window as the rumoured iPhone 17 line of phones. Details about any audio improvements are thin on the ground, though there’s a growing chorus of “leaks” suggesting the new wireless speaker will feature a touch screen interface.
Some rumours suggest an upgraded HomePod Mini is also in the works, which would make sense as the original launched all the way back in 2021, and while we stand by our reviewers’ five-star rating, is getting a little long in the tooth. We haven’t seen any credible reports about what hardware upgrades the rumoured new model will include. However, even if it does arrive this year, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has suggested it will be between September and November at the earliest.
What about a new Apple TV?
The Apple TV 4K (2022) remains the best media streamer we’ve tested, despite its age. But we’ve recently seen early rumblings Apple may launch an upgraded version of the streamer this year. The latest rumours suggest it’ll also be a very different beast to the current Apple TV featuring new circuitry, updated wireless connectivity and an integrated web camera for Facetime calls. Sadly, like the HomePods above, the same rumours peg the fabled upgrade with a late 2025 release, making it very unlikely we’ll see a new Apple TV today.
Apple Intelligence
As well as hardware there’s a strong chance Apple could have some AI, software related news at the launch. If the rumours are right and the A18, Apple-Intelligence-ready chipset is used on the SE 4 this would make sense. AI is a hot topic for all tech companies including Apple, which has been rolling a steady stream of AI features including ChatGPT integration, voice to text, auto image manipulation, notification summaries and more. But it’s yet to do anything audio related specifically, outside of its hearing test functionality on the AirPods. So we’re not expecting much at the event, given the lack of new hardware. But Apple has surprised us in the past…
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is another key product we’ve been waiting for a while now. The AirPods Pro 2 launched in September 2022, so a new model coming this year would make sense – most companies, Apple included, launch new flagship earbuds every two to three years.
Details about the fabled new AirPods Pro remain thin on the ground however. The only recent hint we’ve seen came from a US Patent and Trademark Office filing featuring several revisions to the Pro’s design. However, filings like this are quite common and don’t mean any of the changes or technologies included will actually be used.
Outside of this, commonly rumoured upgrades include minor upgrades to the buds chipset, and optimisations designed to improve ANC and audio quality, rather than a complete redesign.
Does size matter?
The team at What Hi-Fi? have covered iPhones since the first generation model. And as a result we all have a lot of hot takes on the line’s development, including What Hi-Fi? contributor, Esat Dedezade who isn’t enamoured at the prospect of the SE going up in size.
Apple 'HomePad'?
Will the AirPods Max 2 arrive?
There has been a long wait for the AirPods Max 2 since their launch announcement in September, but it looks like we will have to hold out for even longer. We have not heard any of the mutterings that would be expected when a product is launched, so it seems unlikely at this point. Of course they could completely flip the script and announce them anyway but we shall see.
The original Max had a modest upgrade last year when Apple added new colour options and USB C connectivity. When the proper AirPods Max 2 arrive, most rumours currently suggest they will include an upgraded processor compared to the AirPods Max. However, given the modest refresh last year, and lack of credible rumours, as well as the ongoing popularity of the current AirPods Max, we can’t see a new model arriving any time soon.
Top tip: don’t discount the older Apple products
We’re expecting and hoping Apple will unveil its new products soon. But ahead of that we have one top tip: don’t automatically feel the need to go for the new products.
Apple hardware retains its value for a long time and rarely gets significant discounts – outside of when it's about to be retired. With that in mind we’d strongly recommend keeping an eye on the prices of older AirPods, HomePods and Apple TVs whenever new models come out.
While we’re not expecting many of these today, on the off chance Apple does unveil new speakers, earbuds or streamers we’ve attached deals blocks below. Each automatically trawls online storefronts to find the best prices currently available.
The iPhone 16e is here!
Surprise! There isn't actually an iPhone SE 4. Instead there's an iPhone 16e. However, outside of this the phone is roughly in line with pre-event rumours. Key details include:
- A new design that looks like an iPhone 14 and 16 mashed together
- The use of a new A18 chipset with Apple Intelligence (AI gubbins)
- 48MP rear camera
- A 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with OLED display with HDR support
- USB-C charging
- $599 starting price
No new HomePod, no AirPods Pro – and so we wait
Well, while we digest the news about the new iPhone 16e – the new addition to the family that Apple CEO Tim Cook teased for today's launch – it's worth noting that there wasn't any sight of any HomePod or AirPods-related announcements. Perhaps that's to be expected, but that just means we'll be keeping an eye on the rumour mill as we wait for news of the next AirPods Pro wireless earbuds or the next-gen HomePod speaker that are meant to be launching at some point later this year.
If you're keen to see what's been revealed or suggested so far, check out our guide to all the rumours and leaks about the purported Apple HomePod with a screen, as well as our wishlist of what we want from the Apple AirPods Pro 3.
MORE DETAILS ON THE IPHONE 16E REVEALS ITS AV CAPABILITIES
It's official, Apple's latest smartphone is an affordable entry into its iPhone 16 family, and now we have more details about how this new entry-level model stacks up to its siblings in terms of AV specs.
We know it sports a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2532x1170 and a pixel density of 460ppi. Peak brightness is 800 nits for typical use, or it can reportedly reach 1200 nits for HDR content; speaking of HDR, the iPhone 16e supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
Audio-wise, it should come as no surprise that the iPhone 16e features Apple Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, with Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless audio connectivity. It also sports a USB-C socket which allows for wired audio connectivity, meaning it should also play nice with portable DACs.
The iPhone 16e launch is great, but where's my new HomePod?
Another Apple launch event, another lack of any new HomePods. Apple, as you might have figured out by now, launched the affordably priced iPhone 16e, and while we're very happy about its arrival, it's hard not to think: "Is that it?". The affordable iPhone 16e is all well and good, but where's my new HomePod, Apple? A sequel to the Mini or an update to the mainline model are both well overdue, especially when Apple is set to integrate its latest Apple Intelligence software into its new iPhone models.
