Abstract
- iPhone 16e boasts a compact design, premium construct, and attributes borrowed from the vanilla iPhone 16.
- The 6.1-inch OLED show affords nice colours and brightness, making for a dependable visible expertise regardless of a 60Hz refresh fee.
- With distinctive efficiency and assist for Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16e affords high-tier options at a mid-range value.
With the iPhone 16e, Apple has perpetually modified the which means of an reasonably priced iPhone. When you’re contemplating upgrading from a two- or three-year-old handset, listed below are a number of the reason why the iPhone 16e must be in your checklist.
iPhone 16e Has a Compact Type Issue
When you’re out there for a compact flagship with a premium build, the iPhone 16e should not disappoint you. The handset is about the identical measurement because the vanilla iPhone 16, which makes for comfy one-handed utilization.
With an aluminum body, Ceramic Shield front, and a glass again panel, the reasonably priced iPhone has a comparatively fashionable design. Whereas the budget iPhone has a notch up top (borrowed from the iPhone 14), there’s one digicam and the corporate’s mascot on the again panel.
Apple additionally took a web page off the iPhone 15 Pro’s recipe and added the Action Button on the entry-level iPhone. Every thing else, just like the facet button and quantity rockers, IP68 dust and water resistance rating (as much as 6m for half-hour), and the USB-C port on the underside, is similar because the vanilla iPhone 16.
A Sharp, Vibrant, and Dependable Show
Despite the fact that there are a number of handsets within the phase that offer a 120Hz refresh rate screen, the iPhone 16e’s 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display screen is caught at 60Hz in 2025 (however so is the iPhone 16). Past that, although, the finances iPhone’s display screen is decently shiny (as much as 1,200 nits) and crisp.
I will admit that these specs aren’t distinctive; they will not enchantment to lovers. Nevertheless, iPhone shows are recognized to supply correct colours, have excellent viewing angles, and reply properly to the touch inputs. Collectively, these qualities make up for a dependable visible expertise.
The notch on the high jogs my memory of the time when the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 had been in style. It homes the required Face ID sensors, permitting you to entry your cellphone securely and the entrance digicam.
iPhone 16e Helps Apple Intelligence
The most cost effective iPhone will get some of the powerful mobile processors of all time: A18 (3nm) chip. It contains a six-core CPU, a four-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Along with 8GB of reminiscence, the chipset offers unmatched efficiency for its value.
Whether or not you wish to play AAA video games on the highest graphics settings (besides increased body charges), edit 4K videos, or deal with intricate Lightroom workflows, the iPhone 16e can take all of it. It’s, unquestionably, some of the benchmark-friendly handsets on the value.
All of the uncooked processing energy makes room for Apple Intelligence. That is proper. The $699 iPhone 15 would not get a chunk of Apple’s GenAI options, however the $599 iPhone 16e will get all of them. Writing Tools, Notification Summaries, Picture Playground, Visual Intelligence; you title it, and the most affordable iPhone can do it.
All of the GenAI features currently available on iOS 18.3, and those coming sooner or later will likely be accessible on the iPhone 16e.
12MP to 48MP: The Digicam Will get a Main Improve
The newest entrant into the iPhone 16 lineup borrows its digicam from the flagships. As a substitute of a 12MP (f/1.8) digicam on the iPhone SE 3, you get a 48MP (f/1.6, OIS) sensor on the iPhone 16e.
The rise in megapixels not solely improves the general sharpness and film high quality but in addition allows 2x in-sensor zoom. When you’re into creating movies, the handset can document 4K Dolby Vision footage at as much as 60 fps.
You additionally get options like Sensible HDR 5, portrait mode, night time mode, Photographic Styles, spatial audio recording, wind noise discount, and Audio Mix. On the entrance, the iPhone encompasses a 12MP (f/1.9) shooter with autofocus.
When you’re not hardcore into smartphone photography and might’t see your self utilizing the secondary extremely extensive digicam the flagship iPhones provide, the iPhone 16e lets you seize glorious photos and movies in virtually each situation.
Battery Life Shines
With regards to battery life, the most affordable iPhone outperforms its flagship sibling by a major margin. The iPhone 16e affords as much as 26 hours of video playback, which is 4 hours greater than the iPhone 16 and just one hour shorter than the iPhone 16 Professional.
It would not get quicker MagSafe charging, however the finances iPhone nonetheless helps Qi wireless charging. You possibly can cost it as much as 50% in half-hour through the USB-C port utilizing a 20W adapter or increased.
Dependable 5G Connectivity
The iPhone 16e options Apple’s first in-house modem, the C1 subsystem. It would not assist mmWave connectivity however offers as much as 4Gbps of obtain velocity on sub-6 GHz 5G networks. You additionally get Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS, NFC with reader mode, and a USB-C port.
A Large Improve for iPhone SE or iPhone 13 Homeowners
All issues thought-about, the $599 iPhone 16e (128GB) is like an reasonably priced model of the iPhone 16. It lacks some nice-to-have options, like the Camera Control button, a Dynamic Island on the front, a secondary extremely extensive digicam, and quicker MagSafe charging.
Nevertheless, in case you’re okay with not having these options (I do know a bunch of people that have already positioned their pre-orders), you possibly can’t go improper with the design, efficiency, battery life, and digicam high quality of the iPhone 16e.
Try the best iPhone 16e MagSafe cases of 2025 to guard your funding. Occupied with shopping for a used iPhone? Here is 11 things you should check before getting a used iPhone.