Smartphone review
iPhone 16e: A new affordable iPhone, but not without sacrifices
Apple removes key features to differentiate the 16e from its flagship lineup—will users accept the trade-offs?
Top Line
On one hand, the iPhone 16e fits more seamlessly into Apple's flagship series than its previous budget model, featuring a similar design, identical hardware, and shared capabilities.
On the other hand, Apple has deliberately removed some features, likely to create differentiation and prevent it from being too competitive within the lineup. This effectively turns it into a downgraded iPhone, with a particularly noticeable compromise in the camera department.
Additionally, while marketed as a budget-friendly iPhone, it is far from cheap. For Apple loyalists unwilling to consider other brands, another cost-effective option is purchasing the previous model. The iPhone 15 is available at a similar or slightly higher price than the 16e, with the main difference being an older processor—still sufficient for everyday use. It also offers two cameras and the "Dynamic Island" feature. The downside: it does not support Apple Intelligence.
Details
When the original iPhone launched in 2007, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer famously dismissed it as too expensive, predicting it would fail—partly due to its lack of a physical keyboard. This quote has haunted Ballmer ever since, but over time, pricing has indeed become a concern. High-end iPhones now start at $1,000 in the U.S., while the base model costs $800. Meanwhile, significantly cheaper Android alternatives are widely available.
Apple’s solution has been to offer a more affordable model with a few compromises. Less than a month ago, the company introduced the iPhone 16e, replacing the iPhone SE. The name alone signals a shift: whereas the SE was clearly separate from Apple’s flagship series, both in name and design, the 16e is now part of the main lineup.
We took the new model for a brief hands-on test, courtesy of iStore, to assess its capabilities.
Structure and Design: Part of the Family
The iPhone 16e looks nearly identical to the standard iPhone 16, featuring the same 6.1-inch display, body structure, and button layout—a power button on the right, volume keys on the left, and a button above them that can switch silent mode on and off or be customized to activate the camera, flashlight, and more. The new camera button, however, remains exclusive to the higher-end models in the 16 series.
A closer look reveals subtle differences: the 16e is a few millimeters smaller and weighs 167 grams, making it feel light yet well-built. It meets the IP68 standard, ensuring protection against water and dust, including submersion for up to 30 minutes.
The most visible distinction on the front is the selfie camera, which takes up a larger area—resembling the iPhone X design rather than the floating pill-shaped cutout found in newer models. On the back, the difference is even more noticeable, as the 16e features only a single camera lens.
Hardware: Powerful but Less Competitive
The iPhone 16e is powered by Apple’s A18 processor, the same chip found in the base iPhone 16. It also offers identical memory and storage options, ranging from 128GB to 512GB, paired with 8GB of RAM.
This ensures a nearly identical user experience to other models in the series, handling everyday tasks and demanding games with ease. However, compared to Android rivals—including mid-range devices—the 16e falls short. Many competitors now start at 256GB of storage (though some still offer 128GB) and often include 12GB of RAM. Apple’s devices remain pricier while providing less storage capacity.
The 16e’s screen is bright enough for outdoor use but suffers from excessive reflections due to its glossy finish.
Battery life is another area where Apple lags behind competitors. The 16e houses a 4,005mAh battery—larger than the base iPhone 16 but smaller than many competing devices, which typically offer 5,000mAh. In our brief test, it lasted a full day under moderate use.
Charging speeds remain unimpressive. The box does not include a charger, but since Apple now uses USB-C (following regulatory pressure), this is becoming less of an issue. Using a 25W charger, the battery charged from 15% to 50% in about 20 minutes, with a full charge taking just over an hour and a half.
Another compromise: while the 16e supports wireless charging, it does not include MagSafe, Apple’s magnetic system for attaching chargers and accessories.
Software: Apple Intelligence but No Dynamic Island
As expected, the iPhone 16e runs iOS, offering all the familiar Apple features. It also includes Apple Intelligence. The AI system only functions when the device is set to English, meaning menus and Siri interactions are entirely in English.
Despite aiming for consistency with the flagship lineup, Apple has intentionally created distinctions. One clear example is the absence of Dynamic Island, a feature introduced in recent models to display notifications, media controls, and other interactive elements around the front camera. The 16e’s front camera cutout remains unused, adding another noticeable downgrade.
Camera: Minimal and Needs Improvement
The iPhone 16e’s rear camera has been upgraded from 12MP to 48MP but remains a single-lens system. It offers only 2x zoom, lacks an ultra-wide-angle option, and has no macro lens. In short, it’s a very basic camera setup.
The selfie camera has improved, jumping from 7MP to 12MP. Users can select different shooting modes and adjust color settings, but overall, the results are underwhelming. The camera performs well in most conditions, including nighttime shots, but lacks the sharpness and quality expected from Apple’s typically strong imaging system.
Photography has long been one of Apple’s strengths, making it disappointing that the company chose to cut corners in this area.
