Apple has actually lastly introduced a brand-new entry-level phone, the iPhone 16e. The three-year space from the previous design release provided the business time to execute a significant refresh, consisting of Apple Intelligence, an A18 chipset, a brand-new cellular modem, a bigger battery capability, Face ID, and a lot more.
: Best of MWC 2025: 10 most excellent items that you may’ve missed out on
The very best part– it is all packaged into a $599 handset, cost numerous dollars less than the baseiPhone 16 designIf you’re purchasing a modern-day iPhone for less cash, your time might well be now.
To discover how the iPhone 16e compares to the remainder of the lineup, I changed out my iPhone 16 Pro, which I have actually been utilizing considering that its September release, for the iPhone 16e. My findings: I am similarly satisfied as I marvel. Continue reading.
The current iPhone design is the business’s most cost effective choice in 2025, with a 6.1-inch screen that now supports Face ID, an A18 chipset, and a C1 modem for cellular connection.
Program more
1. The software application (including Apple Intelligence)
From the software application perspective, the iPhone 16e provides whatever it guarantees. The shift from the iPhone 16 Pro to the iPhone 16e was mainly smooth due to the fact that both worked on the exact same silicon, which permits them to support the current iOS 18 functions to their complete capability, consisting of all of the Apple Intelligence functions.
This implies that regardless of the lower price and not having as lots of GPU cores as other A18 versions in the iPhone 16 lineup, the iPhone 16e still allowed me to access all of the very same Apple Intelligence functions, consisting of Writing Tools, Notification Summaries, Image Playground, Visual Intelligence, Clean Up, and my preferred, Genmoji.
: Forget Siri: Apple Intelligence’s real capacity on iPad and Mac depends on third-party apps
Most significantly, when the complete suite of Apple Intelligence includes present, iPhone 16e users will have access to it in its totality. Users with an iPhone 15 design or lower can not access it.
Apple Intelligence is implied to be a “individual intelligence” system grounded in your individual info and context. It can recover information from throughout your apps and reference the material on your screen. iPhone 16e users will have access to this sophisticated help while conserving a number of hundred dollars on the preliminary gadget. Do not focus your purchasing choice on this element alone, as it might be a while till Siri 2.0 rolls out. A currentBloomberg report recommends a release date as late as 2027.
2. A brand-new electronic camera that does the job for many people
The front video camera of the iPhone 16e is the exact same as the other iPhone 16 lineup: a 12MP front-facing cam, implying that your selfies will be precisely the very same. A fast look at the back of the iPhone 16e exposes that the video camera system is substantially more primitive than that of the iPhone 16 Pro.
: Noticeable will offer you the brand-new iPhone 16e free of charge. Here’s how.
The iPhone 16e includes a 48MP large cam on the back with an incorporated 2x Telephoto, which, although an upgrade from the previous design, may be a deal-breaker for image lovers. As anticipated, I discovered that the iPhone 16 Pro’s dual‑camera system produces more sleek pictures than the 16e’s dual-functioning cam. My most significant battle has actually been not having the 12MP Ultra Wide video camera, which I continuously utilize on the iPhone 16 Pro to take.5 x pictures.
Since of the lower-grade video camera, a few of the advanced functions discovered on iPhone 16 Pro, such as shooting ProRaw or cinematic video, are not available. You likewise can’t shoot spatial videosthough you’re most likely ruling out that if you’re eye an iPhone 16e. Still, the mobile phone can still take gorgeous images, so if the lack of an ultrawide or telephoto lens is not a dealbreaker for you, this is still a strong electronic camera system.
3. Missing Out On Dynamic Island/Camera Control
The greatest distinction in the kind aspect of the iPhone 16e, aside from the somewhat smaller sized 6.1-inch size, is the absence of a Dynamic Island and Camera Control button. Despite the fact that the absence of these 2 aspects makes it look more like the iPhone 14 and, for that reason, a bit outdated, their lack didn’t affect my day. It made me believe about when I utilize either of the functions, and the response is hardly ever.
: Why the brand-new $349 iPad is sneakily Apple’s finest hardware deal today
On the iPhone 16 Pro, I do delight in utilizing the Camera Control button to open the electronic camera and breeze images more easily without needing to click the shutter button in the middle of the screen. Since the iPhone 16e consists of a Control Button, all I did was map the video camera to it and was able to utilize it the exact same method I rely on Camera Control.
A much less noteworthy however more impactful distinction was the lack of MagSafe. This is the best-case situation for users who have never ever utilized Apple’s magnet-based devices Abuse for everybody else. It’s regrettable that Apple used MagSafe for practically every other iPhone in the last few years, from the iPhone 12 to the iPhone 13 Mini. On the intense side, there are workarounds, such as attachable magnets or a MagSafe-compatible case
4. A screen that’s appropriate, however absolutely nothing more
I am chronically online, so my week with the iPhone 16e consisted of seeing YouTube videos and scrolling on TikTok for hours. My watching experience on the iPhone 16e was not significantly various from that on the iPhone 16 Pro, which is excellent for the rate point.
The Super Retina XDR screen isn’t much smaller sized, can be found in at 6.1-inch compared to the 6.3-inch of the iPhone 16 Pro. The visuals included abundant, dynamic colors and deep contrast. The iPhone 16e likewise has a peak brightness of 1,028 nits, which, although less than the iPhone 16 Pro, enables an enjoyable watching experience, even when in direct sunshine.
The nit to select here is the 60Hz refresh rate, which is the exact same as the iPhone 16 however half that of the iPhone 16 Pro. I would be lying if I stated the more stuttery animations weren’t visible, particularly after originating from the smoother 120Hz revitalize rate of the iPhone 16 Pro. This should not be an offer breaker for a lot of users, particularly if you’re not accustomed to greater refresh rate display screens. It likewise should not be a talking point when Android phones costing as low as $200 have 120Hz revitalize rate display screens nowdays.
All things thought about, the display screen is among the greatest enhancements from the iPhone SE 2022, which had a Retina HD 4.7-inch screen with a peak brightness output of 625 nits.
Respectable Mentions
The iPhone 16e has some other engaging functions not pointed out above, consisting of:
- It’s light-weight: Having a phone in my back pocket as light as the iPhone 16e is so rejuvenating after bring around much heavier designs for many years. The iPhone 16e weighs 5.88 ounces (167 grams), and the iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs 7.03 ounces (199 grams). Naturally, the compromise of a light-weight, cheaper design is that it has a glass back rather of the Pro’s titanium.
- Apple C1 modem:The iPhone 16e likewise includes Apple’s very first internal 5G modem, the Apple C1. This modem is an action far from the standard Qualcomm processor and is suggested to give users a quick and trusted 5G connection. In the long run, it needs to enhance battery life. In my experience, my service has actually been precisely the exact same, which is the designated objective.
- Battery life: The iPhone 16e provides to 26 hours of video playback, which is the metric Apple utilizes to determine battery life. This indicates that older design users will see a huge enhancement. IPhone 11 users will get 6 more hours of battery life with the upgrade. The iPhone 16 provides to 26 hours of video playback, just a bit more.
ZDNET’s purchasing recommendations
In general, it is a strong phone for individuals happy to pass up a few of the bells and whistles of the remainder of the iPhone 16 lineup. From my screening, the most significant sacrifice originating from the iPhone 16 Pro was the loss of the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses and advanced photography and videography functions. For primarily whatever else, the iPhone 16e can hold its own for a $599 handset.
