Apple has just announced the newest addition to the family, the iPhone 16e. Here's what you need to know about pricing and pre-orders so you can get your hands on it as soon as possible (if you so desire).
What are my options to pre-order the iPhone 16e?
An iPhone 16e pre-order is available directly via the Apple store and Apple's Amazon page, or you can pre-order it as part of a phone plan through Optus, Telstra, or Vodafone.
Pre-orders officially open from 12am on February 22. Vodafone's pre-orders start at 12:01am and Optus' pre-orders go on sale from 9am.
To help you make a decision, here are a few things to consider:
- Do you want own the iPhone 16e outright or get it on a plan? You can pre-order an iPhone 16e from a mobile provider as part of a phone plan and break the cost up over a period of months or get it as a one-off purchase and own it right away
- Select which colour and storage size iPhone 16e you want. Keep in mind the more storage you get the more expensive the iPhone 16e will be
- Compare providers and plans. Find the best deal for your iPhone 16e pre-order. Even if you've purchased it outright, you might be able to save money by switching to a cheaper provider or plan.
Pre-ordering the iPhone 16e on a plan
As with other big phone launches we're expecting you'll be able to pre-order the iPhone 16e on a plan from Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone. Each telco offers 12-, 24- or 36-month payment terms. If you opt for a shorter contract you'll own your handset outright sooner but a longer contract will keep your device repayments lower.
Each telco offers different inclusions on data, other perks and mobile coverage.
36-month iPhone 16e plans compared
Choosing the 36-month repayment period is the option that nets the lowest monthly bill and it's the most popular option on WhistleOut for most phones.
Here are the cheapest 36-month plans in our database from each provider offering pre-orders for the iPhone 16e.
24-month iPhone 16e plans compared
The 24-month repayment term means your monthly payments will be more expensive than a 36-month term but still half the cost of the 12-month contract.
Here are the cheapest 24-month iPhone 16e pre-order plans in our database from each provider:
Pre-ordering the iPhone 16e for outright purchase
To pre-order the iPhone 16e for outright purchase, head to Apple’s Australian website between February 22 and its official release date of February 28.
How much is the iPhone 16e in Australia?
The iPhone 16e starts at $999, making it $500 cheaper than the iPhone 16. It's around $280 more expensive than Apple's previous budget model the iPhone SE (2022) was at launch.
Here is a breakdown of recommended retail pricing for the iPhone 16e in each storage capacity:
- 128GB, from $999
- 256GB, from $1,199
- 512GB, from $1,549
What's the cheapest way to pre-order an iPhone 16e?
Whether you pre-order your iPhone 16e on a mobile plan or for outright purchase, you’ll end up paying roughly the same for the phone itself – barring any special deals that might pop up.
If you purchase your iPhone 16e outright you can choose to pair it with a cheap plan from a smaller provider – saving you more money in the long run.
Called Mobile Virtual Service Operators (MVNOs), these smaller providers utilise the Telstra, Optus and Vodafone networks and keep costs down with fewer overheads and more basic plans. Most of these MVNOs offer SIM-only plans, so you have to bring your own device.
Signing up to an iPhone 16e phone plan from Optus, Vodafone, or Telstra means you can break the device cost down into instalments. This might make your monthly bills more manageable but generally the plans from the big three are much more expensive.
See the cheapest mobile plans in our database of 28 mobile providers, broken down by different data amounts.
When will I get my iPhone 16e pre-order?
If you pre-order your iPhone 16e between February 22 and its February 28 release date, you should receive it fairly quickly. If you're really after a new phone and the iPhone 16e is the one you want it's better to pre-order it as soon as possible.
If you live in a major metropolitan area you should get yours on release day or within a few days. Delivery time will depend on your exact location.
Can I still get an iPhone 16e if I don't pre-order?
Yes! It might just take a little longer, depending on demand. As it's not a mainline unit you shouldn't expect to wait as long as you would but you never know, it's an iPhone after all.
You can always pop into a nearby Apple Store on release day.
These are currently the most popular NBN 50 plans in our database of 34 internet providers:
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
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