iPhone 16e Pre-Orders Open on Amazon, "Affordable" Price Tag Disappoints

iPhone 16e: A Budget Phone That Isn't

The iPhone 16e, Apple's supposedly "budget-friendly" new smartphone, is now available for pre-order on Amazon Japan. While the availability on Amazon mirrors Apple's own direct sales, the reality of this device is a major letdown for consumers expecting a truly affordable option. The pricing and market positioning are already raising eyebrows and drawing heavy criticism.

The phone comes in the usual configurations: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options, and a choice of black or white. So far, so standard. The problem? Even the base 128GB model starts at a hefty ¥99,800. That's significantly more expensive than comparable smartphones from competitors. Even worse, it's only ¥25,000 cheaper than the standard iPhone 16. For a supposed "budget" model, that price difference is simply not compelling enough for most consumers.

Apple is touting its next-generation AI features, "Apple Intelligence," as a key differentiator for the iPhone 16e. However, there's a major catch for the Japanese market: Japanese language support is currently not implemented. This severely limits the appeal of this supposed selling point in Japan. And frankly, it's debatable whether most users even consider AI features essential in a smartphone.

The iPhone 16e does have a couple of minor advantages: long battery life and, technically, the lowest price point in the current iPhone lineup. But these positives are utterly overshadowed by the poor price-to-performance ratio. The phone's positioning in the market is incredibly awkward, making it difficult to identify a clear target audience.

Before its announcement, the iPhone 16e was hyped as the "affordable iPhone" many had been waiting for. But the reality is a complete betrayal of that promise. It's a contradictory device: an "expensive budget phone." This misstep seems to highlight a lack of direction from Apple.

By disappointing consumer expectations and lacking competitive pricing, the iPhone 16e is shaping up to be a memorable failure for Apple.