Apple’s iPhone 16e is notable for a bunch of reasons, including killing off the Home button and Apple’s use of LCD screens in its handsets. Away from these obvious upgrades, there was one other invisible change: the Qualcomm modem was replaced with one designed and built by Apple.

Apple and Qualcomm's relationship has been strained for a decade and the iPhone 16e C1 chip is Apple's first move to cut ties once and for all.

Macworld After five years with the iPhone SE, there’s a new “budget” iPhone at the Apple Store today, the iPhone 16e. Not only did Apple completely shake up the low end of its lineup, it also bid farewell to several things that once defined the iPhone.