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I favored utilizing the iPhone SE 2022; whereas it was primarily based on an older design, the refreshed internals and the diminutive design made it a enjoyable gadget, and it was reasonably priced. With the iPhone 16e, Apple is seeking to replace that components; the cellphone has an even bigger profile and consists of Face ID as commonplace, and it will get USB-C connectivity. There is a greater battery than the one within the iPhone 16, and as it’s powered by the identical A18 platform, it comes with all of the Apple Intelligence options.
All of those upgrades come at a price, with the iPhone 16e beginning at $599. That places it uncomfortably near final 12 months’s iPhone 15, and whereas it does a fantastic job with the basics, it misses out on extras: you do not get a secondary digicam on the again, there is no MagSafe, and the panel remains to be 60Hz.
However for those who’re on an older iPhone and seeking to improve, there are sufficient new options on the iPhone 16e that make it a good selection — for those who do not thoughts the excessive asking value.
Apple iPhone 16e: Pricing and availability
Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e on February 19, 2025, and the gadget went on sale globally beginning February 28. It begins at $599 within the U.S., £599 ($775) within the U.Ok. and €699 ($761) in different international locations within the area, and ₹59,990 ($690) in India. The usual mannequin comes with 128GB of storage, and also you additionally get 256GB and 512GB variants. The iPhone 16e is out there in white and black choices, and that is what the gadget prices around the globe:
- iPhone 16e (128GB): $599 / £599 / €699 / ₹59,990
- iPhone 16e (256GB): $699 / £699 / €829 / ₹69,990
- iPhone 16e (512GB): $899 / £899 / €1,029 / ₹89,990
Class | Apple iPhone 16e |
|---|---|
Show | 6.1-inch 60Hz Retina XDR OLED, 2532×1170, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, 1200 nits max, Ceramic Defend |
OS | iOS 18.3 |
Chipset | Apple A18, 4-core GPU, 3nm |
RAM | 8GB |
Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB |
Rear digicam | 48MP f/1.6, OIS, 4K60 video |
Entrance digicam | 12MP f/1.9 |
Ingress safety | IP68 mud and water resistance |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C |
Safety | Face ID |
Audio | USB-C, stereo sound |
Battery | 3,961mAh battery, 20W charging, 7.5W Qi charging |
Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm, 167g |
Colours | White, Black |
Apple iPhone 16e: Design
The iPhone 16e makes use of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 as the muse for the design, and the gadget has the very same dimensions. It is not fairly as small because the iPhone SE 2022, and that is in the end a superb factor — that 4.7-inch dimension was getting too small anyway. The iPhone 16e has a superb in-hand really feel, and despite the fact that it has an even bigger battery than the iPhone 13, it’s a smidgen lighter, and that is at all times a superb factor.
The positioning of the ability and quantity buttons is unchanged, and what I like is that the Motion button from the iPhone 15 is out there on the gadget. The button is simply as customizable, and you should use it as a flashlight toggle, switching to silent mode, altering Focus modes, dictating notes, launching the digicam, real-time translations, or a customized management.
I discover the Motion button to be the simplest method to toggle Focus modes, and I am glad the characteristic is out there on this gadget. One other iPhone 15 characteristic that trickled all the way down to the gadget is the USB-C port; the iPhone 16e marks the top of the Lightning port, with the entire gadgets in Apple’s portfolio now coming with USB-C. This can be a constructive transfer, and makes charging the 16e considerably simpler.
The one characteristic that did not make its means over is the notch; the iPhone 16e makes use of the older iPhone 13-style cutout and never the Dynamic Island that debuted on the iPhone 14 Professional and subsequent fashions. The older notch is distracting, and would not fairly mix into the background in addition to Dynamic Island. I discover myself utilizing the characteristic to simply management music playback on my iPhone 16 Professional Max, and never with the ability to do this right here was irksome.
One other problem is with the selection of colours. The iPhone 16e is out there in simply white and black shade choices, and it misses out on the pink variant that appeared beautiful on the SE 2022. Clearly, you possibly can deck the gadget out in colourful instances, however as somebody who would not use instances, I needed a shade choice that stood out a bit extra.
On that notice, the construct high quality itself is terrific (as you’d think about), with the cellphone getting an aluminum mid-frame sandwiched between two panes of glass. The again has a frosted glass end that feels nice, and as an added bonus, it would not choose up smudges.
The iPhone 16e has a single digicam on the again, and the lens would not name out a lot consideration to itself — in what’s a stark distinction to the large digicam lenses which are a mainstay on all Android telephones. The mid-frame has a matte texture that makes holding the cellphone simply that bit simpler.
There is a SIM card slot in world fashions of the gadget (identical to the iPhone 16), however the U.S. model is proscribed to eSIM connectivity, however you should use two eSIMs on the identical time. One other commonplace characteristic is IP68 ingress safety, with the gadget getting the flexibility to resist submersion in as much as six meters of water.
Though the design of the iPhone 16e is acquainted, it has sufficient differentiated options from newer fashions that it stands out from the common iPhone 13 and 14.
Apple iPhone 16e: Show
You get the identical 6.1-inch OLED panel because the iPhone 13 and 14, and like these gadgets (and the iPhone 16), it’s restricted to 60Hz. It is annoying that 120Hz remains to be restricted to the iPhone Professional fashions, significantly contemplating that price range Android telephones additionally include 120Hz as commonplace as of late. It’s a limitation on the iPhone 16e, and you’ll simply really feel the distinction when utilizing it subsequent to the iPhone 16 Professional Max or any Android gadget.
The panel is protected by Ceramic Defend, and it holds as much as tumbles extremely nicely. My 21-month-old daughter determined to throw the cellphone across the second I unboxed it (she likes doing that), and it got here away unscathed. You get True Tone and Dolby Imaginative and prescient alongside HDR10, and it has good brightness ranges; whereas it is not on par with the iPhone 16 or the Pixel 9, the 16e does a superb job on this regard, and I did not see any issues viewing the panel beneath harsh daylight.
Colours are detailed, and distinction is great. Actually, the one different annoyance with the panel is that there is no always-on mode — that is once more restricted to the Professional fashions. The 6.1-inch dimension has been round some time now on iPhones, and going with this panel is smart; though the notch is of an older type, it’s instantly acquainted.
Speaking concerning the notch, it homes the requisite modules to allow Face ID, and it’s simply as quick and fluid as each different iPhone I’ve used in terms of authentication. It additionally has the secondary speaker and digicam, they usually each do a superb job.
Apple iPhone 16e: Efficiency
The important thing differentiator with the iPhone 16e is that it’s powered by the identical A18 platform because the common iPhone 16 fashions. This offers the gadget an enormous benefit, and though it’s utilizing a binned model of the chip that sees a quad-core GPU in lieu of the 5 that is commonplace on the opposite fashions, the remainder of the options are an identical. The cellphone additionally will get 8GB of RAM as commonplace, and once more, that is increased than what’s accessible with the iPhone 14 and 15.
The cellphone begins with 128GB of storage on the bottom mannequin, and it may be configured with 256GB or 512GB. I am utilizing the 512GB version, and it’s simply as fluid because the iPhone 16 in each day use. It handles demanding video games with ease, delivering secure framerates with none lag. If something, the 60Hz panel holds the gadget again, and it is clear that it is ready to push increased framerates with out taxing the internals an excessive amount of.
Class | Apple iPhone 16e | Apple iPhone 16 Professional Max | Xiaomi 15 Extremely |
|---|---|---|---|
Geekbench 6 (single-core) | 2979 | 3344 | 2963 |
Geekbench 6 (multi-core) | 6364 | 8131 | 8989 |
Geekbench AI (Quantized Rating) | 5426 | 6066 | 3587 |
3DMark Wild Life Excessive (rating) | 2729 | 3688 | 5834 |
3DMark Wild Life Excessive (FPS) | 16.3 | 22.1 | 34.93 |
3DMark Photo voltaic Bay (rating) | 5175 | 6593 | 10006 |
3DMark Photo voltaic Bay (FPS) | 19.7 | 25.1 | 38.05 |
There are not any points with overheating both, and total, the cellphone does a incredible job on this regard. The change to USB-C means you should use a single cable to cost all your gadgets, and whereas you do not get quick information transmission — it’s restricted to 480Mbit/sec — it’s significantly better than utilizing Lightning.
The iPhone 16e will get all of the extras which are included on the iPhone 16, comparable to Emergency SOS, roadside help, and Discover My through satellite tv for pc, in addition to crash detection. Curiously, the iPhone 16e sees the debut of the C1, an in-house modem constructed by Apple that takes over from the Qualcomm-based options utilized in all different iPhones.
The modem would not have mmWave connectivity, nevertheless it has higher effectivity figures, and that is evident whereas testing, with the iPhone 16e eking out higher battery life than the iPhone 16. I did not see any points with connectivity or sign high quality between the 2 gadgets, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if Apple is ready to scale the tech to its total iPhone portfolio.
Total, the iPhone 16e is the quickest cellphone in its class, and for those who’re coming from an older gadget, you may love what it could actually ship.
Apple iPhone 16e: Battery life
The iPhone 16e has a sizeable 3,961mAh battery, and it lasts longer than any iPhone exterior of the Professional Max fashions. Because of the larger battery and environment friendly A18 platform, the cellphone manages to final over a day with relative ease, and even with heavy use, I obtained to the evening with over 15% left.
There isn’t any query that the iPhone 16e has an edge over the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 in terms of battery life, and for those who want a 6.1-inch iPhone that lasts all day, that is the one to get. I additionally like that it expenses over USB-C; this was a degree of competition with the iPhone SE 2022, and I am glad it is not an issue with the 16e.
Like different iPhones, you do not get a charger within the field, and the charging is proscribed to 20W. The cellphone will get to the 50% mark in beneath half-hour, nevertheless it takes shut to 2 hours to cost the battery utilizing an ordinary USB PD charger, and in contrast to most Android telephones, I left it plugged in in a single day due to the prolonged charging occasions.
One other annoyance is that there is not MagSafe, so for those who’ve invested within the accent ecosystem, you will not have the ability to use these with the iPhone 16e. That mentioned, the cellphone goes as much as 7.5W over the Qi commonplace, so if in case you have a charging mat, you should use it with the gadget — it simply would not go as much as 25W over MagSafe just like the iPhone 16.
Apple iPhone 16e: Cameras
The iPhone 16e has the unwelcome distinction of being the one cellphone I examined lately to characteristic a single digicam on the again. The cellphone has a 48MP digicam with OIS, and whereas it makes use of in-sensor zoom to ship the identical caliber of pictures at 2x, that is about as versatile because it will get.
The cellphone misses out on the brand new Photographic Types that debuted with the iPhone 16, as an alternative defaulting to the older system the place you possibly can choose between 5 decisions. You continue to get a good customizability on this regard, nevertheless it is not fairly what you get on the opposite iPhone 16 fashions. Equally, there is no Cinematic mode or Motion mode, however you get slow-motion video and the flexibility to shoot 4K60 footage.
The digicam interface itself is an identical to each different iPhone, with the taking pictures modes on the backside, and the varied toggles across the viewfinder. Fortunately, Audio Combine is unbroken, providing you with a lot larger management whereas taking pictures movies, and there is Evening mode when taking images.
Picture 1 of 6
Whereas it isn’t fairly pretty much as good because the iPhone 16, the 16e manages to take good images in any scenario. Daylight pictures have good element rendition and colours, and the digicam does a good job in low-light, with the devoted Evening mode making a distinction on this regard.
That mentioned, the restricted versatility is the largest draw back of the iPhone 16e; not having a wide-angle or telephoto lens is a large enough drawback that I might counsel getting the iPhone 15 for those who want auxiliary cameras. The 48MP digicam does a superb job at 2x as nicely, however transcend that and also you begin to see seen noise.
Apple iPhone 16e: Software program
The iPhone 16e comes with iOS 18.3 out of the field, and my unit obtained an replace to 18.3.1 shortly after I set it up. As of writing, the iPhone 16e is probably the most reasonably priced gadget with Apple Intelligence. Apple is pushing its AI suite as a differentiator, and whereas many of the options are nonetheless in beta, there’s loads of nice potential. I will be sincere; I would not have used wherever as a lot AI options if Apple did not showcase them at an occasion in Mumbai, India shortly after the debut of the iPhone 16e.
I am ambivalent towards generative AI typically, however I will admit that the iPhone 16e has one of many strongest AI-assisted feature-set of any gadget at this time. Visible Intelligence is Apple’s reply to Google Lens, and it does a superb job figuring out areas, objects, and absolutely anything you lookup. It’s simple to make use of — it may be launched through the Motion button, lock display screen, or Management Middle — and provides you first rate data of the world round you.
In an identical vein, Writing Instruments help with proofreading and summarizing textual content, and you should use the built-in options to rewrite present textual content. There’s additionally the choice to create distinctive photographs with textual content prompts through Picture Playground, and customized emoji with Genmoji. You get the same old image-editing instruments as nicely, and even for those who do not use most of those options, it is clear that that is what Apple believes will make its merchandise stand out.
Outdoors of the AI options, there is not a lot new with iOS 18. The visuals have a slight refresh, however the UI as a complete must be instantly recognizable for those who’re coming from an older iPhone. There is a Management Middle that homes all the same old toggles, and it’s paginated now, providing you with higher entry to customise media and another controls. Focus mode is nice to chop out distractions, and also you get the same old privateness instruments baked in.
The software program is designed to be acquainted whereas providing new instruments. And as is the case with all iPhones, the iPhone 16e will choose up 5 iOS updates. Not like most Android telephones, there is no ready to get the replace ( you, Samsung); all iPhones can obtain the newest iOS model as quickly as it’s accessible.
Apple iPhone 16e: The alternate options
The iPhone 15 is the closest different to the 16e. It prices an extra $100, however you get a cleaner design with Dynamic Island, two cameras on the again, and MagSafe charging. Nonetheless, the gadget would not final so long as the iPhone 16e, and also you miss out on all of the AI options.
Over on Android, the OnePlus 13R is my advice. It has a superb design, vibrant AMOLED with 120Hz, two terrific cameras on the again, an enormous battery with 80W charging, and a superb total worth. Google’s Pixel 9a must also be a superb choice to think about, and if it has cameras which are wherever pretty much as good because the 8a, it must be a standout mid-range selection.
Apple iPhone 16e: Must you purchase it?
You can purchase this if:
- You want Apple Intelligence
- You need an iPhone with nice battery life
- You need terrific efficiency
- You want Face ID and USB-C
You should not purchase this if:
- You want a wide-angle or tele lens
- You want an iPhone with a 120Hz panel
- You need MagSafe connectivity
- You need a good worth
In the end, the iPhone 16e is an efficient cellphone, however a nasty worth proper now. I can see this cellphone doing fairly nicely if it bought at $449 and even $499, however at $599 it is arduous to justify the asking value while you take a look at the omissions — the iPhone 15 turns into a greater different as an alternative. Sure, the iPhone 16e has a 48MP digicam on the again, you get the A18 platform, higher battery life, and it has all of the AI-assisted options that you just get within the iPhone 16.
Nonetheless, there’s only a single digicam on the again, and that simply is not sufficient in 2025 — even entry-level telephones have wide-angle lenses as of late. Granted, these sensors are typically common at greatest and unusable at occasions, however not together with one in any respect on a $599 cellphone is a short-sighted transfer. Equally, not together with a 120Hz panel hobbles the gadget, and it makes it a poor cut price in opposition to Android rivals.
It is clear that the iPhone 16e is geared toward older iPhones customers seeking to change to a (comparatively) reasonably priced mannequin with the newest {hardware}. The inclusion of the A18 and all of the AI options make it a good selection on this regard, and if I am it purely as a successor to the iPhone SE 2022, it will get loads proper: you get a a lot greater display screen, considerably improved battery life, significantly better {hardware}, and a fantastic digicam on the again.
As an improve to the iPhone SE 2022, the iPhone 16e nails the temporary. If that is what you are searching for in an iPhone improve, then the iPhone 16e is an efficient selection. In any other case, the iPhone 15 provides you extra worth, even for those who miss out on Apple Intelligence.
The iPhone 16e has loads of upgrades for those who’re on an older iPhone, nevertheless it would not fairly do sufficient to justify the added price. However for those who want all the brand new AI options and standout battery life, that is the iPhone to purchase.