The iPhone 16e just crashed to $10 ahead of Prime Day in this epic deal

iPhone 16e held in hand with deal badge. — (Image credit: Future)

With Apple teasing us all about what’s in store for iOS 27, I’m stoked about the new Apple Intelligence features and Siri AI. The latter is especially important because not all iPhones are going to get it, which is why this iPhone 16e deal is your cheapest way of getting it.

For a limited time, Cricket Wireless has the iPhone 16e down to $9.99 — a substantial discount compared to its $599 retail cost. But in order to get it, you’ll need to port in an existing number and prepay for service. You’re looking at $60 each month for its Supreme Unlimited Plan, which comes out to an upfront $180 cost for the required service. All told, your out-of-pocket cost to get an iPhone 16e that will support Siri AI is $190.

shop all cell phone deals at Cricket Wireless

I really like this deal for a number of reasons. For starters, it’s in an exclusive club of devices that will get Siri AI when it launches. That’s a big deal because Apple’s assistant is getting a tremendous upgrade that will allow it to do things it has never done before — like being able to take more actions in apps, understand your personal context to get you relevant results, feature a dedicated Siri app, and much more.

Siri AI is going to make the iPhone 16e feel like a totally new device when it launches later this year, but this Cricket Wireless deal is still worth getting for all the other Apple Intelligence features that are coming with iOS 27. For example, I’ve already tested the improvements made to its Photo Clean Up tool — which I pointed out when I compared the iOS 26 vs iOS 27 versions.

Beyond the software features, I mentioned in my iPhone 16e review that I like it for its compact size and svelte construction. And despite having only a single rear camera, I’ve shown in my countless photo face-offs, like against the Pixel 9a, that it still delivers outstanding results. I’m most surprised by its low-light camera performance because it makes pitch-dark scenes look like they're lit by some nearby light source.

Finally, I think it’s worth mentioning how long you’ll need to wait before the phone gets unlocked. Cricket Wireless explicitly states that “the device you want to unlock must have been active for at least 6 months of paid service on that device.” Since this iPhone 16e deal comes with three months of upfront service, you’ll need to tack on an additional three months to get it unlocked. You can technically “downgrade” to its $40/month Select Unlimited plan to lower your monthly cost until you hit that mark.

John’s a senior editor covering phones for Tom’s Guide. He’s no stranger in this area having covered mobile phones and gadgets since 2008 when he started his career. On top of his editor duties, he’s a seasoned videographer being in front and behind the camera producing YouTube videos. Previously, he held editor roles with PhoneArena, Android Authority, Digital Trends, and SPY. Outside of tech, he enjoys producing mini documentaries and fun social clips for small businesses, enjoying the beach life at the Jersey Shore, and recently becoming a first time homeowner.