It lastly occurred: Apple stopped treating its inexpensive iPhone as a second class citizen. We anticipated a brand new iPhone SE, however we obtained the iPhone 16e, which sits on the identical desk as the opposite iPhone 16 fashions. It’s not simply the identify, it’s additionally the dimensions, the chip that powers it, and a few different particulars that make the iPhone 16e a really fascinating entrant into the iPhone 16 lineup.
Nevertheless, the iPhone 16e can be considerably costlier than the (now discontinued) iPhone SE. Is it value it, or do you have to simply dish the additional money for the “real” iPhone 16? Learn on.
Apple iPhone 16e worth
The iPhone 16e begins at $599 with 128GB of cupboard space. Enhance that to 256GB and the worth goes as much as $699, and should you go for the 512GB variant, the worth jumps to $899.
In comparison with the previous iPhone SE, which value $429 when it got here out in 2022, it’s a giant worth improve. Provided that the iPhone SE has been discontinued (alongside the iPhone 15), the most affordable new iPhone is now the 16e, and it’s in a really totally different worth vary.
However, the iPhone 16e begins at 128GB of storage, which is double than what you bought with the final era of the iPhone SE. And in contrast to the previous SE, the iPhone 16e doesn’t instantly scream “old.” As a substitute, it appears like and performs like a contemporary iPhone.
The show is a 6.1-inch OLED, similar to the one on iPhone 16.
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I reckon the pricing will incite blended responses from potential patrons. People who won’t ever pay greater than 5 hundred bucks for a cellphone are actually priced out. Others could also be excited that they will get a “real” member of the iPhone 16 household for under $599.
Apple iPhone 16e design
After I reviewed the iPhone SE, again in 2022, it was a really totally different expertise. That cellphone regarded dated in comparison with the highest iPhones of the day, with a considerably smaller show and large bezels on high and backside.
However the iPhone 16e appears fairly nice. On the entrance, it’s principally an iPhone 14, with a big, 6.1-inch OLED show. There’s no Dynamic Island on high; as a substitute, you get the notch which hides the entrance digicam, the Face ID digicam, the speaker, and varied sensors.
On the again, there’s solely a single digicam coupled with a flash mild. It’s a giant unit, although, and in an odd means it appears higher (cleaner, not less than) than the multi-camera arrays on costlier iPhones. Solely two colours are on supply, black and white. My evaluate unit was white, and I liked each the matte white glass on the again, and the best way the white body contrasts with the darkish show bezels on the entrance.
The body is made from aluminum, and similar to on the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16e additionally will get the Motion Button. It’s good of Apple to incorporate it; I usually set it to carry out one factor and by no means change it once more, but it surely’s higher than the previous swap.
General, Apple struck the appropriate stability with the iPhone 16e’s design. It’s a no-nonsense iPhone that doesn’t look historical, and it additionally does not look or really feel low cost in any means.
You solely get one digicam. However it’s a two-in-one.
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Apple additionally despatched me a blue and a pink silicone case for the iPhone 16e. The sunshine silicone instances are a superb match for the iPhone 16e, which, at 167 grams, is the lightest cellphone within the lineup. Examine it instantly with any of the Professional fashions, and also you’ll really feel a fairly large distinction in weight.
There’s yet one more factor to contemplate right here, and that’s measurement. At 6.1 inches, the iPhone 16e is basically the identical measurement because the iPhone 16 (it’s a hair shorter, however you gained’t discover that). The iPhone SE was a much smaller cellphone, and with it out of the best way, it signifies that Apple is not promoting actually small telephones.
Apple iPhone 16e efficiency and battery life
Greater than some other “affordable” Apple cellphone, the iPhone 16e strikes me because the businessman’s cellphone. It appears good however not flashy. It performs, nonetheless, simply pretty much as good because the iPhone 16, and it even beats it in a few crucial methods.
The iPhone 16e has Apple’s A18 chip inside; it’s the identical chip you’ll discover contained in the iPhone 16, but it surely solely has 4 GPU cores as a substitute of 5. You gained’t discover the distinction.
Apple doesn’t say how a lot RAM its telephones have, however benchmarks point out that the iPhone 16e comes with 8GB of RAM, similar to the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Professional fashions.
Mix that with 128GB of beginning storage, and it signifies that the iPhone 16e performs just about the identical because the iPhone 16. This was my expertise, too: All the pieces felt quick, irrespective of what number of apps I had open and which apps I used. Sure, even my favourite gaming benchmark, PUBG, was snappy on highest settings. GeekBench scores confirmed this: with a 3201 single-core, 7423 multi-core rating, the iPhone 16e is only a hair slower than the iPhone 16.
You don’t get all of the niceties of the Professional fashions, in fact. The iPhone 16e doesn’t have the ProMotion, 120Hz show, or the Dynamic Island, however none of those omissions are dealbrekers for me.
Two colours are on supply, each matte: White and black.
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Right here’s a giant promoting level for the iPhone 16e: It has wonderful battery life. Apple says it could possibly deal with as much as 26 hours of video playback, in comparison with 22 hours on the iPhone 16. I couldn’t examine the 2 gadgets instantly, however throughout the week that I used it as my essential cellphone, the iPhone 16e usually lasted two days after being totally charged, and that is with very heavy use.
That is partly because of Apple’s C1 mobile chip, which made its debut within the iPhone 16e. The chip labored as meant for me; I by no means had issues with connectivity, calls or messages. If it could possibly do this while including a pair hours of battery life to the cellphone, it’s an enormous win.
Apple wouldn’t be Apple, nonetheless, if it didn’t throw a curveball at potential patrons by eradicating MagSafe from the iPhone 16e. In the event you’ve by no means used it, you gained’t care. To me, it’s a giant deal; I exploit a bunch of MagSafe equipment, together with Apple Pockets and a number of other wi-fi charging. The iPhone 16e does assist wi-fi charging, although, so you need to be capable of get an honest expertise with MagSafe equipment by utilizing a MagSafe case. I couldn’t get a pattern case quick sufficient for this textual content, however as soon as I get it, I’ll positively strive it out and let you know the way it really works.
Apple iPhone 16e: Apple Intelligence
Being in Europe, I do not get to expertise Apple Intelligence on an iPhone but (it is coming in April). I’ve performed with Apple Intelligence on the Mac, and whereas nothing appeared important, the instruments are enjoyable and useful and so they’ll in all probability turn out to be higher over time.
AI is extraordinarily vital for Apple (and, frankly, some other cellphone maker as of late), so it truly is sensible that Apple made its “cheap” iPhone a bit extra highly effective than anticipated with the intention to give it full Apple Intelligence assist.
Lightning port is out, USB-C is in.
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I do not consider individuals are shopping for (and even needs to be shopping for) telephones primarily based on what kind of AI options they assist, not less than not proper now. I do suspect that, over time, these options will turn out to be as indispensable as getting access to search or fundamental picture modifying. In that sense, even should you’re in Europe and do not have a good suggestion what AI on an iPhone is like, it is good to know that the iPhone 16e is totally future-proof in terms of Apple Intelligence.
Apple iPhone 16e digicam
You solely get one, 48-megapixel digicam on the again of the iPhone 16e. On paper, it is similar to the one you get on the iPhone 16, although Apple calls this one a 2-in-1 digicam system. That is as a result of it could possibly produce 24-megapixel or 48-megapixel vast pictures, or 12-megapixel 2x zoom pictures.
Sharp (maybe overly so), detailed, with correct colours: A typical iPhone picture.
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It isn’t fairly the identical as having two cameras, and low mild efficiency could be sketchy. However what you might want to know is that the iPhone 16e’s digicam isn’t an afterthought prefer it was on the iPhone SE. More often than not, you may get sharp, vibrant pictures, and the default, 24-megapixel decision gives you loads of element.
By default, the iPhone 16e takes 24-megapixel pictures. But when the circumstances are good, you may flip it as much as 48 megapixels for these additional particulars.
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Is it even value zooming in if there isn’t any devoted telephoto digicam? Sure, it truly is. Zooming into the identical scene I usually obtained a greater, smoother picture, even in reasonably low mild. If there is a element you wish to deal with, you need to use that 2x button.
Left:
On 1x magnification, you get a 24-megapixel picture. The iPhone 16e handles a number of mild sources admirably; colours are correct, and the picture may be very sharp, although a number of the particulars get smudgy if you zoom in.
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Proper:
With 2x magnification, you solely get a 12-megapixel picture, which is a little more noisy, but it surely’s smoother, with higher background particulars.
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In low mild, the outcomes have been alright, although you may’t count on Professional-level efficiency right here. I took a night stroll on the island Rab in Croatia, and managed to take some pretty sharp and detailed pictures of the historic Romanic buildings.
The iPhone 16e handles low mild scenes effectively, however do not count on miracles.
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However pointing the digicam onto the fishing boats within the night time’s distance yielded very blurry outcomes.
Selfies are fairly nice, and you’ll tune them to your liking by utilizing Photographic Types, that are considerably unfairly hidden within the digicam settings.
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The selfie digicam seems to be unchanged from iPhone 16, so there’s not a lot to write down about. It takes nice selfies, and sure, Photographic Types are supported, so you may go to the digicam settings and tune them to your liking.
Apple iPhone 16e: Do you have to purchase?
The Apple brand on the again has by no means been this refined.
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The iPhone 16e marks a giant change in course for Apple. The corporate doesn’t promote any telephones cheaper than $599 proper now, making the barrier to entry for its ecosystem loads larger than earlier than.
That stated, the iPhone 16e is a wonderful cellphone. It appears good, has all of the niceties of a contemporary iPhone, together with a giant, OLED show and a contemporary, 48-megapixel digicam. It truly beats different telephones within the lineup in a number of methods; it’s the lightest new iPhone you should purchase, and it has wonderful battery life. It performs simply in addition to the iPhone 16, and totally helps Apple Intelligence. It doesn’t have MagSafe, which is a disgrace, however not everybody will care. Most individuals who desire a no-nonsense iPhone for the least sum of money gained’t thoughts the opposite omissions, both, akin to the dearth of Dynamic Island. Lastly, it’s future-proof; because it has Apple’s super-fast A18 chip, it’ll in all probability be quick sufficient in three, 4, and even 5 years.
All of this makes the iPhone 16e good worth for cash. However this isn’t the iPhone SE, and it’s not an inexpensive Apple cellphone; these issues are gone for now. It’s only a cheaper iPhone 16.
