iPhone 16e assessment: Light-weight energy in an exquisite bundle

The iPhone 16e would possibly lack among the iPhone’s most premium options, however I can’t assist however find it irresistible. Whereas testing it for my iPhone 16e assessment, the cellphone’s mild weight and clear rear design made me pleased each time I picked it up, in a method I haven’t felt since my iPhone 5s. And its up to date guts make it a wonderfully serviceable day by day driver that’ll keep quick and responsive for years to come back.

It isn’t as low cost because the iPhone SE it replaces in Apple’s lineup. And whereas it largely resembles the iPhone 14 and 15, it’s lacking MagSafe, one of many iPhone’s finest options for a few years now.

I downgraded from my private iPhone 16 Professional to the iPhone 16e for the assessment, to place it via its paces — and got here out impressed. Maintain studying or watch the video under.

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2025 iPhone 16e assessment

Apple doesn’t replace the entry-level iPhone, beforehand known as the iPhone SE, too typically. Each time it does, the brand new finances iPhone abruptly turns into the best-phone-per-dollar-spent once more. However then it ages for 2 to 4 years on the identical worth and turns into much less of a valued buy.

The iPhone 16e would possibly mark a brand new technique. Relatively than maintain it on the shelf on the identical worth, I wouldn’t be shocked if Apple offers this mannequin extra common updates — with older fashions dropping in worth over time.

Desk of contents: iPhone 16e assessment

1. Design
2. Colours and instances
3. Lacking MagSafe
4. The C1: Mobile connectivity
5. The C1: GPS and satellite tv for pc connectivity
6. iPhone 16e digicam
7. What else is lacking?
8. Conclusion
9. Worth

Design

If the iPhone SE have been the one iPhone you knew about, and also you determined to improve to the 16e, you simply made a ten-year quantum leap. The prior mannequin nonetheless resembled the iPhone 6 from 2014. The brand new mannequin is completely according to right this moment’s iPhone 16 lineup.

The primary distinction you’ll discover as quickly as you choose it up. It’s over 15% lighter than my iPhone 16 Professional, at 5.9 ounces in comparison with 7.0. That feels like a nitpicky distinction, however it’s enormous. The 16e feels unimaginable. I really like holding it in my hand in a method I haven’t felt for the reason that iPhone X.

The following greatest distinction is that there’s no triple-camera system dominating the rear. I can maintain it in my left hand and sweep my pointer finger throughout the again of the cellphone (like a windshield wiper) with out touching the digicam. Distinction that with my iPhone 16 Professional, the place I stand by what I wrote in my preliminary assessment: “The digicam bump sits proper the place my index finger naturally needs to relaxation. I’ve to scrunch up my finger or alter the angle to get it out of the way in which.”

Past that, you’ve in all probability seen this earlier than. It has flat sides, with subtly rounded edges all the way in which round. The aluminum band across the outdoors is softly textured. The again glass has a matte end. It has round speaker and microphone holes on the underside and a USB-C port. As an alternative of a hoop/mute change, it has the Motion button.

Colours and instances

To virtually everybody’s disappointment, the iPhone 16e solely is available in black and white. Personally, I miss the mixture of black glass and silver steel, just like the iPhone 4. The black shade as an alternative comes with darkish steel across the edge. However I guess most individuals will miss the fantastic pink, teal and ultramarine of the iPhone 16.

Apple’s place is that if you wish to add a pop of shade, you may add a case. It’s a good level that solely nitpicky weirdos like me use their cellphone bare. My counterpoint is that Apple’s instances aren’t particularly enjoyable, both. Fuchsia and winter blue are two good choices, however the different three are black and white, once more, and lake inexperienced, which proves about as thrilling as pond scum.

The case itself is very nice. It feels extremely delicate within the hand. The buttons are a barely extra rubbery materials and stick out prominently, so that they’re simple to seek out and click on in. Prior Apple silicone instances added a big quantity of tackiness that made it onerous to tug out of tight denims with out taking the pocket liner out with it. They firm refined the fabric in order that doesn’t look like an issue anymore.

As a result of the 16e digicam is so small and skinny, the case doesn’t want a lip on the again — it sits completely flat. It does nonetheless have a lip across the entrance show, so you may toss it down on a desk with out fear. The cutout for the USB-C port is massive sufficient to suit even my thickest Thunderbolt cable.

If I have been to personal an iPhone 16e, nevertheless, I in all probability wouldn’t use the Apple silicone case. I might search for a case with a built-in unofficial MagSafe ring.

Lacking MagSafe

The dearth of MagSafe is the iPhone 16e’s weirdest omission. I’d actually like to know what the engineering trade-off was. The magnets aren’t very huge and aren’t very costly — in any other case, there wouldn’t be so many third-party instances with built-in MagSafe nor so many low cost MagSafe stickers. (The costliest one I might discover, on the primary two pages of outcomes on Amazon, was $14.)

Not everybody makes use of MagSafe, however when you’re in, you may’t return. I’ve a MagSafe 3-in-1 charger on my nightstand, one other in my workplace, a automotive charger clipped to my dashboard, the Apple pockets, a battery pack for touring, a tripod mount and a handheld digicam mount. All with MagSafe.

Due to the aforementioned MagSafe stickers, it’s simple to appropriate. Given time, you’ll in all probability be capable of purchase a case that’s “MagSafe appropriate.” I personally tried attaching a mix MagSafe ring/stand/pop socket, and I can affirm that should you line it up correctly, the cellphone works with all my MagSafe equipment.

Granted, as a result of this isn’t full MagSafe, it’s extra like utilizing a wi-fi Qi charger that occurs to have magnets to completely align itself. It doesn’t detect what sort of factor you’re attaching, like a pockets or battery or a charger. It additionally doesn’t cost as quick; it’s capped at 7.5W quite than 25W.

The C1: Mobile connectivity

The iPhone 16e is the primary iPhone to get the Apple C1 chip for its 4G and 5G mobile connectivity, satellite tv for pc communication and GPS.

When Apple switched the Mac from Intel to Apple silicon, the advantages have been gigantic and rapid. Efficiency and battery life skyrocketed. By 2020, Apple had been designing its chips for over ten years; Apple silicon was mature by the point it got here to the Mac. Intel had been dropping its aggressive benefit over the identical interval.

The C1 chip is getting a extra modest introduction. Qualcomm makes the perfect mobile chips on the planet — and nonetheless does. Apple was apparently pushed to push the C1 chip into manufacturing as a result of a contentious enterprise relationship, not as a result of Qualcomm isn’t delivering the products.

The C1 doesn’t assist 5G mmWave, or millimeter wave — a high-speed (however restricted vary) mobile connection that’s as quick as dwelling Wi-Fi. Granted, only a few mobile towers on the planet assist 5G millimeter wave, so most individuals in all probability received’t discover until they reside in a serious metropolitan space.

Different reviewers who reside in huge cities have reported it really works precisely as anticipated — and no information is nice information. I’ve the other state of affairs, in a rural space with a perpetually weak sign. And it performs precisely in addition to my iPhone 16 Professional. I did pace assessments at dwelling, sitting in my automotive inside my storage, and on the Polaris Mall Apple Retailer the place I picked it up. It carried out mainly identically.

The C1: GPS and satellite tv for pc connectivity

The C1 chip additionally handles the iPhone 16e’s GPS sign. Strolling round my home with Apple Maps zoomed in all the way in which, each telephones in hand, the iPhone 16e appears to carry out simply as effectively, if not barely higher, than the iPhone 16 Professional. Granted, a check in a dense city metropolis avenue could be a greater stress check, the place the iPhone 16 Professional’s dual-band GPS would in all probability come out forward in decreasing errors.

I used to be unable to strand myself within the woods to check the satellite tv for pc connectivity, however I carried out the Satellite tv for pc Connection Demo in Settings > Apps > Messages. The 16e discovered a satellite tv for pc noticeably sooner than the 16 Professional — on a cloudy day, no much less.

iPhone 16e digicam assessment

The iPhone 16e’s single digicam is successfully the identical primary rear lens you get on an iPhone 16. It could possibly take 24MP photos, or 12MP photos sensor-cropped to 2×. Optionally, you may allow full 48MP photos in Settings.

A overwhelming majority of my pictures are within the 1–2× vary. I sometimes use the Extremely Large and telephoto lenses when touring, however I don’t assume I might be brokenhearted giving them up. For a cellphone that prices $400 lower than the Professional mannequin, the one lens is remarkably succesful.

You possibly can report video as much as 4K60. That is all of the decision most individuals have to future-proof their pictures for a lot of, a few years to come back. Movies taken with the iPhone 16e look incredible. You’d have a tough time shopping for a standalone digicam for $599 that takes higher movies.

I used to be shocked that the iPhone 16e helps Apple’s fancy new audio mixing function with wind noise discount and Spatial Audio. In some footage I recorded working round with my canine within the yard, the sound of my ft crunching via the leaves sounds virtually overbearing. (You possibly can decrease it to a quiet background noise.)

I’m additionally shocked how a lot I miss the Digicam Management. I’ve actually internalized that I can squeeze the best facet to immediately open the digicam irrespective of the place I’m. On the iPhone 16e, I strive do this, remind myself that it doesn’t do this, take a second to recollect methods to open the digicam, swipe down the Lock Display screen after which swipe over. I want the iPhone 16e a minimum of had a easy “launch the digicam” button, sort of like an Motion button, however in the identical place. (Truly, I want that’s what it was like on all of the iPhone 16s.)

What else is lacking?

The show is vivid and clear, however it’s removed from Apple’s finest. The iPhone 16e comes with a notch as an alternative of a Dynamic Island; I actually miss having the ability to pause media taking part in within the background, watch working timers and keep watch over turn-by-turn instructions. It doesn’t assist All the time On, though I’ve that disabled on my iPhone 16 Professional already. The show additionally doesn’t have ProMotion — which I missed most of all.

The iPhone 16e solely helps Apple’s outdated Photographic Kinds, which may’t be edited after you’ve taken the image. As an alternative, you undergo a setup the place you may select to course of your pictures with extra shade saturation or with a particular tone.

You possibly can’t take 3D spatial pictures and movies, both. I don’t assume there’s a big overlap between Imaginative and prescient Professional and iPhone 16e house owners, however that’s technically a lacking function.

Conclusion: iPhone 16e assessment

From its announcement, I wasn’t anticipating to like the iPhone 16e as a lot as I do. It’s lovely, it feels nice within the hand, and it appears completely trendy. I feel this shall be an incredible cellphone to carry down the underside of the iPhone lineup for years to come back. It’s a disgrace Apple couldn’t promote it at a lower cost and not noted MagSafe, however a minimum of the latter is definitely remedied.

Personally, I’m excited for Apple to use the learnings of the iPhone 16e to its Professional line of telephones. Aluminum is a lot lighter and feels nicer; chrome steel and titanium have been all the time advertising and marketing gimmicks that made the cellphone heavier and worse. The digicam being out of the way in which within the nook makes it simpler to carry.

I’m not available in the market for a finances cellphone. However I’m glad that the people who find themselves shall be getting one thing nice with the iPhone 16e.

★★★★☆

Pricing

Entry-level excellence

iPhone 16e

Apple’s finances entry within the iPhone 16 lineup is the primary machine to make use of Apple’s environment friendly C1 modem. It delivers lengthy battery life and Face ID however skimps on key options, together with MagSafe.

Professionals:

• Excessive-end Apple design at a lower cost level
• Apple C1 modem
• Longer battery life than different iPhone 16 fashions

Cons:

• No MagSafe, Dynamic Island or Extremely Wideband chip
• Solely two colours: black and white

Apple didn’t present Cult of Mac with a assessment unit for this text. See our critiques coverage, and take a look at extra in-depth critiques of Apple-related objects.