Apple lastly rolled out a brand new entry-level telephone within the iPhone 16e. The three-year hole from the earlier mannequin launch gave Apple time to implement an enormous refresh, together with the addition of Apple Intelligence, supported by the A18 chipset, an Apple modem, a bigger battery capability, extra storage choices, and Face ID, to call a number of.
The perfect half — it’s all packaged right into a $599 price ticket, a whole lot of {dollars} cheaper than the bottom iPhone 16 mannequin.
Additionally: Better of MWC 2025: The 7 most spectacular merchandise you do not wish to miss
To learn how the iPhone 16e compares to the remainder of the lineup, I switched out my iPhone 16 Professional, which I’ve been utilizing day-after-day since its launch in September, for the iPhone 16e. My findings: I’m equally as impressed as I’m shocked. I’ll go in-depth beneath.
1. The software program ft. Apple Intelligence
From the software program standpoint, the iPhone 16e delivers all the pieces it guarantees. The transition from the iPhone 16 Professional to the iPhone 16e was completely seamless as a result of each have the identical silicon, which permits them to run the newest iOS to its full capability, together with all the Apple Intelligence options.
Because of this regardless of the cheaper price tag and never having as many GPU cores as different A18 variants within the iPhone 16 lineup, the iPhone 16e nonetheless enabled me to entry all the identical Apple Intelligence options, together with Writing Instruments, Notification Summaries, Picture Playground, Visible Intelligence, Clear Up, and my favourite, Genmoji.
Additionally: Better of MWC 2025: The 7 most spectacular merchandise you do not wish to miss
Most significantly, when the complete suite of Apple Intelligence options rolls out, iPhone 16e customers could have entry to it in its entirety. Customers with an iPhone 15 mannequin or decrease can not entry it.
Apple Intelligence is supposed to be a “private intelligence” system grounded in your private info and context. It might probably retrieve information from throughout your apps and reference the content material in your display screen. iPhone 16e customers could have entry to this superior help whereas nonetheless saving a few hundred {dollars} on the preliminary gadget. Nevertheless, do not make your shopping for determination on this issue alone, as it could be some time till Siri 2.0 rolls out with a Bloomberg report putting the discharge so far as 2027.
2. Cameras (or lack of)
The entrance digicam of the iPhone 16e is identical as the opposite iPhone 16 lineup: a 12MP front-facing digicam, which means that your selfies can be precisely the identical. Nevertheless, a fast look behind the iPhone 16e reveals that the digicam system is considerably extra primitive than that of the iPhone 16 Professional.
Additionally: Seen provides you with the brand new iPhone 16e free of charge. Here is how.
The iPhone 16e encompasses a 48MP broad digicam on the again with an built-in 2x Telephoto, which, though an improve from the earlier mannequin, is perhaps a deal-breaker for photograph lovers. As anticipated, I discovered that the iPhone 16 Professional’s twin‑digicam system produces extra polished pictures than the 16e’s dual-functioning digicam. My largest battle has been not having the 12MP Extremely Large digicam, which I always use on the iPhone 16 Professional to take .5x pictures.
Due to the lower-grade digicam, among the extra superior options discovered on iPhone 16 Professional, reminiscent of capturing ProRaw or cinematic video, are unavailable. Nevertheless, the smartphone can nonetheless take lovely pictures, so in case you are not trying to take the highest-quality pictures and simply wish to seize recollections, that is nonetheless a strong possibility.
3. Lacking Dynamic Island/Digital camera Management
The largest distinction within the type issue of the iPhone 16e, apart from the marginally smaller 6.1-inch measurement, is the dearth of a Dynamic Island and Digital camera Management button. Despite the fact that the dearth of those two parts makes it look extra just like the iPhone 14 and, due to this fact, a bit dated, their absence did not influence my day. In reality, it made me take into consideration after I use both of the options, and the reply is never.
On the iPhone 16 Professional, I do get pleasure from utilizing the Digital camera Management button to open the digicam and snap pictures extra conveniently with out having to click on the shutter button in the midst of the display screen. Nevertheless, as a result of the iPhone 16e features a Management Button, all I did was map the digicam to it and was ready to make use of it the identical manner I depend on Digital camera Management.
Additionally: Lacking MagSafe in your iPhone 16e? Here is how one can simply add it: 2 methods
A a lot much less notable, however extra impactful distinction was the absence of MagSafe. Despite the fact that it’s a tiny distinction, it turned evident to me after I tried utilizing my transportable charger MagSafe charger and it would not snap onto the again. Nevertheless, there are workarounds, reminiscent of attachable magnets or a MagSafe-compatible case.
4. The crisp show
I’m chronically on-line, so my weekend with the iPhone 16e included watching YouTube movies and scrolling on TikTok for hours. My viewing expertise on the iPhone 16e was not noticeably any totally different than that on the iPhone 16 Professional, which is spectacular for the value level.
The Tremendous Retina XDR show is not a lot smaller, coming in at 6.1-inch in comparison with the 6.3-inch of the iPhone 16 Professional. The visuals featured wealthy, vibrant colours and deep distinction. The iPhone 16e additionally has a peak brightness output of 1,028 nits, which, though lower than that discovered on the iPhone 16 Professional, permits for a pleasing viewing expertise, even when in direct daylight exterior.
All issues thought of, the show is likely one of the largest enhancements from the iPhone SE 2022 which had a Retina HD 4.7-inch show with a peak brightness output of 625 nits.
Honorable Mentions
The iPhone 16e has another compelling options not talked about above, together with:
- Its gentle weight: Having a telephone in my again pocket as gentle because the iPhone 16e is so refreshing after carrying round a lot heavier fashions for years. The iPhone 16e weighs 5.88 ounces (167 grams), and the iPhone 16 Professional Max weighs 7.03 ounces (199 grams). In fact, the compromise of a light-weight, cheaper mannequin is that it has it has a glass again against the Professional’s titanium.
- Apple C1 Modum: The iPhone 16e additionally options Apple’s first in-house 5G modem, the Apple C1. This modem is a step away from the normal Qualcomm processor and is supposed to grant customers a quick and dependable 5G connection. In the long term, it ought to optimize battery life. In my expertise, my service has been precisely the identical, which is the supposed objective.
- Battery Life: The iPhone 16e gives as much as 26 hours of video playback, which is the metric Apple makes use of to measure battery life. Because of this older mannequin customers will see a large enchancment. For instance, iPhone 11 customers will get six extra hours of battery life with the improve. The iPhone 16 gives as much as 26 hours of video playback, solely a bit extra.
General, it’s a strong telephone for individuals prepared to forgo among the bells and whistles of the remainder of the iPhone 16 lineup. From my testing, the most important sacrifice would be the ultra-wide lens and superior pictures and videography options, however in case you are not concerned with pictures, this might not be a problem for on a regular basis photographs.
