In 2017, the iPhone X launched with a notch cut-out display, which is used on the iPhone 16e, instead of the Dynamic Island.
In 2021, the iPhone 16e was noted to have the same dimensions, front and price point as the iPhone 13.
In 2022, the iPhone 14 Pro introduced the Dynamic Island, a feature that the iPhone 16e lacks, instead having a notch cut-out display.
In 2022, the iPhone 16e was noted to have the same dimensions, front and price point as the iPhone 14.
On February 19, 2025, the iPhone 16e was announced as an affordable model in the iPhone series, with a starting price of $599.