The rumors turned out to be right, even when most had been styling it with a capital E quite than a lower-case one: the iPhone SE 4 is formally named the iPhone 16e.
One query is what the e stands for. Apple has typically been obscure concerning the which means of suffices like S, R, and SE when appended to varied iPhone fashions, however it did present a solution this time …
Majin Bu was right
Leaker Majin Bu was first to recommend the brand new identify, initially of January, and was right with all the small print (if we forgive the upper-case E).
Based mostly on what my supply has reported, it appears that evidently the brand new iPhone that Apple will unveil in 2025 won’t be referred to as iPhone SE4, however iPhone 16E. It ought to characteristic a design much like the iPhone 14, with an OLED show and an motion button. The out there colours will probably be white and black.
He additionally referenced obvious packaging shortly earlier than the announcement.
Apple’s historical past of obscure suffixes
Apple has kind for utilizing letter suffixes with no clear clarification of what they imply. The ‘S’ within the iPhone 3GS was stated to face for ‘pace,’ however it had no clear which means within the iPhone 4S to 6S timeframe.
The iPhone 5C was a transparent one, with a ‘colourful’ which means (we’re fairly positive Apple wouldn’t imply ‘low-cost’!).
The Macintosh SE stood for Particular Version, however it wasn’t 100% clear whether or not it had the identical which means within the iPhone SE.
We additionally had the iPhone XR and XS earlier than Apple adopted the extra informative mini, Plus, Professional, and Professional Max conventions.
What does the e stand for in iPhone 16e?
John Gruber notes that somebody requested the query in yesterday’s press briefing, and Apple stated it meant … nothing in any respect.
In an internet press briefing right now, when requested whether or not the E stands for something, an Apple rep stated no, it doesn’t stand for something, however that it’s constructed for everybody. I don’t assume she meant to suggest that the E secretly stands for everybody, if solely as a result of I’m fairly positive Apple doesn’t need everybody shopping for the lowest-price iPhone mannequin.
So, that’s the official reply: it’s only a random letter.
Picture: 9to5Mac/Apple
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