Apple unveils iPhone 16E for $599—netizens laugh, ‘Okay, but does it make calls?’

Apple has done it again. They’ve announced a brand-new iPhone, and the internet is having a field day. This time, it’s the iPhone 16E, a supposedly more affordable model, launching at $599.

On paper, it has all the usual bells and whistles an A18 chip, Face ID, Apple Intelligence, and even a USB-C port. But while Apple is hyping up the “E” in 16E, the crowd is more focused on the “Eh?” part of the announcement. As soon as the price was revealed, netizens wasted no time sharing their reactions, and let’s just say, they weren’t exactly singing Apple’s praises.

iPhone 16E: A Budget Phone That’s Not Really Budget

Apple has been on a mission to expand its lineup with more “affordable” options in recent years, but let’s be real $599 is still a hefty price tag. The announcement was posted online with a sleek marketing image, that tried to make it sound like a steal. But for a company that once sold iPhones without chargers and called it “courage,” the skepticism was inevitable.

The internet responded in the only way it knows how: with brutal honesty and a good dose of sarcasm. The most viral reaction? A simple yet cutting question,

“Okay, but does it make calls?”

Because let’s face it, in the era of never-ending iPhone upgrades, users have been left wondering whether Apple still prioritizes the basic functions of a phone.

The moment Apple dropped the announcement, the comment section exploded.

Others were quick to point out the irony of saying $599 is "cheap," especially because previous budget iPhones had a lower starting price. One commenter remarked,

"Their 'cheap' phone isn't really cheap anymore."

Another added, "Only $599? They could do better, and they know it."

Following was the old Apple grievance: the never-ending procession of slightly changed iPhones hailed as revolutionary innovations.

“Same shi, money grab,” one unimpressed user commented, summing up what many were thinking.

Others joked about Apple’s obsession with stretching out features over multiple generations.

“I wonder how far they will go with the iPhones,”

one person quipped, probably expecting the iPhone 17E to be a repackaged 16E with a slightly brighter screen.

Of course, no Apple launch is complete without the die-hard Android fans jumping into the conversation.

"Apple sucks, get a real phone," one comment read, because iPhone vs. Android debates will never die.

Apple probably anticipated hype, but the internet had other plans. Instead of praise, the unveiling of the iPhone 16E turned into a meme-fest, with users trolling everything from the cost to Apple's apparently never-ending iPhone lineup.

Yes, the phone may do well since, let's be real, it's Apple but the discussion surrounding it makes one thing evident. People are fed up with the same old updates with fancy terminology. And if Apple is reading, perhaps next time, they need to think less about buzzwords and more about, well… getting people genuinely excited for a new iPhone.