Apple iPhone 16e Review: Who is it For?

Value When Reviewed

From $599

Finest Costs At present: Apple iPhone 16e

From the second Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e, I’ve been making an attempt to determine who this factor is for. It wasn’t the following iPhone SE many had anticipated or hoped for, and the mix of outdated and new Apple applied sciences at play means it doesn’t carry the identical broad attraction of the usual iPhone 16 or the iPhone 16 Professional.

Though it lowers the barrier to entry for these eyeing up the iPhone 16 line, when contemplating what else is on the market on the identical £599/$599 beginning value, it’s exhausting to not get hung up on what Apple selected to omit from the 16e’s make-up, in an effort to make it essentially the most inexpensive of the present iPhone technology.

Design & Construct

• IP68-certified mud and water resistance
• No MagSafe
• Improved repairability

To take a look at, the iPhone 16e’s design is refreshingly easy. You get the identical straight-sided type Apple has been dressing its telephones with for the previous few generations, paired to a notched 6.1-inch show, which appears as if it’s been lifted immediately from 2022’s iPhone 14, whereas on the again you’re introduced with flat etched glass and a single rear digital camera.

This additionally actually marks the tip of the house button on an iPhone or iPad, though the 16e does get the road’s side-mounted Motion Button, as a substitute.

Though that is essentially the most primary entry within the iPhone 16 household, the 16e’s development doesn’t really feel prefer it’s acquired any much less consideration than the usual or Professional fashions, when it comes to construct high quality.

Positive, there’s no Professional-tier titanium body to talk of, however nonetheless its partially-recycled ‘aerospace-grade’ aluminium encompass has evenly rounded edges for consolation and feels nice within the hand. It’s what we’d anticipate at this lower cost.

There’s no denying that the iPhone 16e is a handsome telephone, nevertheless it does solely are available in two colors

That’s additionally helped by the telephone’s impressively low weight of 167g, which undercuts the usual 16 and is barely actually crushed out in 2025 by the Samsung Galaxy S25 and a mass of HMD’s plastic-bodied characteristic telephones you’re unlikely to be all for.

I wasn’t anticipating the 16e to affix the likes of one of the best telephones of 2025 when it comes to their typical IP69-certification, however its IP68-rating ought to be greater than sufficient for many customers who don’t wish to have to fret about utilizing their telephone in heavy rain or dusty situations.

The telephone is fronted by Apple’s toughened Ceramic Defend glass, nevertheless it’s an older recipe in comparison with the extra superior variant discovered on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional.

The corporate claims that that etched again glass is “the hardest again glass in a smartphone” too, however doesn’t clarify any additional than that; so with out throwing my 16e on the bottom, I’m simply going to need to take their phrase for it. The rear digital camera lens is protected by sapphire crystal to maintain scratches at bay.

Whereas I typically place confidence in Apple’s sturdiness claims – and my assessment unit has proven no actual indicators of wear and tear after a month of testing – it has spent more often than not in a case. Nonetheless, I didn’t actually decide one out for defense however fairly aesthetics.

There’s no denying that the iPhone 16e is a handsome telephone, nevertheless it does solely are available in two colors: black and white (the black is unquestionably the higher of the 2 finishes). If, like me, you need a bit flare out of your telephone, you’re going to need to accessorise so right here’s hoping Apple provides to the vary sooner or later.

Apple’s official silicone case sells for £39/$39, coming in 5 colors (pictured right here in Fuchsia), and it’s the one solution to make the 16e stand out past telephone charms and stickers.

One of many massive variations in comparison with virtually each different iPhone launched because the iPhone 12 is the dearth of MagSafe. It’s maybe some of the uncommon and disappointing omissions on the 16e, with the silver linings being that the telephone does retain primary Qi wi-fi charging and MagSafe’s absence contributes to the telephone’s pleasingly featherweight really feel.

MagSafe isn’t only a charging commonplace, nevertheless, it’s the important thing to an ever-expanding ecosystem of magnetic equipment, from docks to chargers, automobile mounts to gimbals, so it’s a disgrace that the 16e didn’t at the very least retain the magnetic facet of MagSafe.

Whereas Apple solely sells the one case for the 16e, third-parties do promote MagSafe-compatible circumstances, which might add magnets again to your 16e expertise, for a bit further money, so there’s a manner round it of kinds.

One notable {hardware} enchancment that Apple ought to be praised for (albeit begrudgingly) is the promise of improved repairability. Not solely is the battery extra readily user-replaceable – ditching pull tabs and cussed glue for a a lot cleaner electro-chemical launch mechanism – however components pairing has been eased too.

This implies you need to be capable of swap damaged or failing components of your 16e with official substitute components with out subject – one thing that Apple hasn’t traditionally allowed.

Display & Audio system

• 6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR OLED show
• 800nits (Excessive Brightness Mode or HBM), 1200nits (peak)
• Notch with Face ID
• No Dynamic Island

Coming from the earlier iPhone SE, there’s no denying that the display on the 16e will really feel like an excellent improve, because it’s considerably bigger, sharper and brighter.

Switching from virtually some other current telephone – particularly these from the Android camp – the viewing expertise is much more pedestrian.

It’s nice that Apple has lastly ditched LCD for OLED tech on its newest lowest-tier mannequin. This brings with it all of the established benefits of the expertise, resembling true blacks and higher distinction, extra vibrant visuals and decrease energy consumption. However even with the decrease asking value, the truth that this £600/$600 telephone nonetheless solely possesses a 60Hz refresh price panel in 2025 is, frankly, insulting.

It’s a trait shared with the bottom iPhone 16 and one thing Apple has dedicated to for a number of generations at this level, so despite many a journalistic protestation, 60Hz seems to be right here to remain, until you cough up further for the 16 Professional’s 120Hz ProMotion tech.

To hammer the purpose residence, simply take a look at our rundown of one of the best mid-range telephone, they’re all extra inexpensive in comparison with the 16e and in virtually each case, boast higher brightness and better refresh-rate shows. Even some handsets in our greatest funds telephone chart supply 120Hz for Pete’s sake.

Because the 16e is utilizing what seems to be the iPhone 14’s show, it comes with the identical brightness limitations too, which makes out of doors viewing in vivid environments difficult; particularly in comparison with similarly-priced rivals. The brand new Google Pixel 9a, for instance, boasts a 120Hz panel that’s greater than twice as vivid (1800nits in HBM with a 2700-nit peak).

It’s additionally why the 16e is the one member of the household with out the Dynamic Island, which Apple launched on 2022’s iPhone 14 Professional sequence. As an alternative you get a notched show, which appears dated by trendy smartphone requirements, however at the very least Apple’s Face ID tech (the important thing parts of which reside inside the notch) stays among the best options to fingerprint login; when it comes to biometric safety on a telephone.

You’ll be able to anticipate clear sound all through the telephone’s quantity vary, from its earpiece and down-firing speaker pair, however middling bass response means there’s little depth to sound or a lot discernible stereo separation.

Specs & Efficiency

• 3nm Apple A18 chipset (4-core GPU variant)
• As much as 512GB storage
• First iPhone with Apple C1 modem

The transfer to Apple’s newest A18-series silicon means the 16e runs on among the best cell chips on the market proper now (even when MediaTek and Qualcomm’s newest wares have eroded Apple’s once-long lead).

As such, you possibly can anticipate flagship-class efficiency from this little pocket rocket, which is formally 40% quicker than the Apple A15 Bionic that powered the iPhone SE (2022).

How a lot worth you placed on the corporate’s newest tentpole characteristic often is the deciding issue surrounding whether or not the iPhone 16e is the precise mannequin for you or not.

Whereas near the bottom A18 chip inside the usual iPhone 16, the 16e’s model does include one slight tweak; one fewer GPU core (4 as a substitute of 5). Nonetheless, the sensible variations are troublesome to identify.

What’s extra, these critical about cell gaming (or different graphically intensive apps/duties) on iPhone ought to save for the A18 Professional (with its six-core GPU) contained in the iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max, anyway.

In testing, benchmarks place it, as anticipated, on the extent with the usual iPhone 16, and with that 60Hz show capping body charges, the telephone is greater than comfy working high-fidelity titles like Zenless Zone Zero with excessive graphical settings (and 60fps) enabled, with constant efficiency.

Apple iPhone 16e benchmarks

This selection in chip (paired to 8GB of RAM) is absolutely in service of facilitating Apple Intelligence help – one thing the bottom iPhone 15 and 15 Plus missed out on, on account of {hardware} limitations. How a lot worth you placed on the corporate’s newest tentpole characteristic often is the deciding issue surrounding whether or not the iPhone 16e is the precise mannequin for you or not.

You’re additionally given the identical storage tier choices as the usual iPhone 16: 128-, 256- and 512GB, with 1TB remaining reserved for the 16 Professional line.

The place the 16e does stand out from any iPhone earlier than it, is that it’s the primary of the sequence to debut Apple’s C1 modem. The corporate has been engaged on methods to interrupt free from its reliance on Qualcomm’s mobile tech for generations now, and the C1 is step one on that path. Impartial testing exhibits comparable 5G efficiency to the Qualcomm-made modems discovered inside the opposite iPhone 16 fashions, albeit with a few compromises; particularly no mmWave 5G and no WiFi 6E/7 future-proofing.

It’s these notable compromises which can be the seemingly driving power behind Apple’s determination to launch the C1 inside its new entry-level iPhone, as a substitute of its top-shelf uber-flagships.

As with the transfer from Intel to Apple Silicon inside the corporate’s laptops, nevertheless, bringing the modem in-house does have further advantages when it comes to effectivity, with Apple theoretically in a position to optimise interactions between that A18 chip and the C1 for higher energy administration and efficiency in a manner it was by no means in a position to with third-party parts like Qualcomm’s modems.

Cameras

• 48Mp f/1.6 fundamental w/ OIS
• Lossless 2x zoom
• 12Mp f/1.9 selfie digital camera

If there was any confusion in your thoughts over the iPhone 16 household’s hierarchy, all you should do is depend the cameras on the again. The 16 Professional line has three, the 16 has two and the 16e has only one.

You would possibly suppose that it runs with the identical 48Mp lead snapper as its extra premium sibling – the usual iPhone 16 – however that’s not fairly the case

The 16e includes a sole 48Mp Fusion digital camera on the again, which shoots 24Mp stills by default and makes use of sensor cropping to seize 12Mp 2x zoom pictures, with no loss in optical high quality.

You would possibly suppose that it runs with the identical 48Mp lead snapper as its extra premium sibling – the usual iPhone 16 – however that’s not fairly the case. Whereas the megapixel depend, aperture and focal size are the identical, the 16e runs with a a lot smaller sensor (1/2.55-inch, in comparison with 1/1.56-inch), which means it may well’t absorb as a lot mild; affecting element, dynamic vary and low mild efficiency.

That comes paired to extra primary optical picture stabilisation (OIS) too; the 16 makes use of superior sensor-shift OIS (first launched on the iPhone 12 Professional Max), which grants it superior element and light-gathering skills, in comparison with the 16e.

Though this all means the 16e’s digital camera is relatively hamstrung, you possibly can nonetheless anticipate to seize good pictures when mild is plentiful, they simply look extra clearly as if they’ve been taken on a smartphone; with much less outstanding depth when not taking pictures in portrait mode. Talking of which, Apple’s imaging pipeline and topic separation edge detection are nonetheless fairly good, particularly when taking pictures portraits on the 16e.

That smaller sensor and weaker OIS does make low-light taking pictures trickier, with the telephone extra readily resorting to Evening mode when the solar begins to set; softening element in pictures and introducing a higher chance of topic blur.

The extra nuanced run of 19 adjustable photographic types – out there on the prevailing iPhone 16/16 Professional line – doesn’t carry throughout to the 16e’s digital camera expertise, with solely the 5 uniform types from earlier runs of iOS being out there.

You do stand up to 4K/60fps video seize, however don’t anticipate Apple ProRes help or the like from the taking pictures expertise – to not point out the identical shortcomings throughout stability and element in low mild taking pictures.

Dropping again right down to a single rear sensor does additionally take away devoted Spatial Video, macro and Cinematic Mode help, whereas the 16e additionally lacks its siblings’ bodily Digicam Management, though I don’t suppose many would argue this as an enormous loss.

All in all, each the imaging {hardware} and software program is way easier than what you’ll get from the remainder of the iPhone 16 household in addition to Android rivals of the same or cheaper value.

Battery Life & Charging

• 4005mAh battery
• Round 25W wired charging
• No MagSafe, Qi wi-fi charging solely

Let’s get the ‘dangerous’ out of the way in which first. Of all of the issues Apple trimmed from the 16 to create the 16e, MagSafe is essentially the most petty and irritating loss as talked about earlier.

Sure, you do nonetheless have Qi wi-fi charging, however at 7.5W, it’s a final resort. Evaluate that to its siblings’ help for Qi2 speeds at 15W or, in fact, native MagSafe speeds at 25W.

Whichever manner you slice it, Apple was already behind the curve relating to fast-charging

Regardless of missing the extra parts for MagSafe, the 16e seemingly weighs the same quantity to the usual 16 as a result of Apple has chosen as a substitute to fill the house with a bigger battery. At 4005mAh, the 16e really has the bigger cell than each the usual 16 and the 16 Professional (however not Plus and Max fashions), which paired with that A18 silicon and C1 modem, modest show and iOS’ established energy effectivity, delivers nice battery longevity.

4005mAh is small amongst Android telephones, however contained in the iPhone 16e it persistently delivered round 12 hours of screen-on time per cost, which equates to about two days of regular use, comfortably.

Throughout testing, this even included intensive duties like downloading massive recreation recordsdata and enjoying intensive titles, just like the aforementioned Zenless Zone Zero for 20 minutes, with excessive graphical constancy and 60fps mode enabled.

When it does come time to recharge, whereas Apple doesn’t cite a selected wattage for wired charging, it clocks in at round 25W, just like the usual 16. The corporate guarantees 50% cost in half-hour, which in my testing, the 16e really surpassed.

The telephone reached 53% in half-hour, 83% in an hour, and a full recharge took an hour and 35 minutes whole.

Whichever manner you slice it, Apple was already behind the curve relating to fast-charging speeds, however the 16e is much more hampered, by shedding out of MagSafe on high.

Software program & Apps

• iOS 18 at launch
• Apple Intelligence help
• Programmable Motion Button

iOS 18, which the 16e runs out the field, marks a fairly seismic shift so far as Apple’s cell working system updates go.

As soon as concrete guidelines of the platform – particularly app icon model and placement, and the look and behavior of Management Centre – have been loosened, permitting for a lot extra creativity, customisability and individuality than we’ve ever seen on an iPhone.

The opposite massive new side to the iOS expertise is Apple Intelligence (sure, “A.I.”). In the event you’ve been following alongside (or know people who purchased a 16 or 16 Professional for Apple Intelligence), nevertheless, you’ll know that the corporate’s AI efforts have traversed a bumpy highway to this point; one which doesn’t look as if it’s prone to easy out any time quickly.

Apple Intelligence on the 16e is much more full than the expertise first launched to 16/16 Professional customers, with tone alteration and summarisation for writing (processed on-device), text-to-image in Picture Playground (plus an emoji-specific model, known as Genmoji), object elimination in photographs (which falls wanting Samsung’s equal tech) and audio transcription. Nevertheless it nonetheless lacks among the key options promised at launch, to not point out additions Apple’s subsequently marketed.

A few of its strongest options – like an improved Siri with cross-app contextual consciousness – have been delayed till at the very least subsequent yr, based mostly on current experiences, whereas newer additions – like Visible Intelligence (letting you ask about or search issues seen along with your machine’s digital camera) – defer to Google and ChatGPT for solutions, fairly than having the ability to depend on Apple’s in-house expertise.

The AI expertise on the iPhone 16e is extra novel than important

Though the state of AI on cell isn’t notably compelling proper now, massive names like Google, Honor and Samsung already supply extra full merchandise, while additionally higher telegraphing when and what new options customers can anticipate. Apple Intelligence was already later to the social gathering than a lot of its rivals, and the service continues to overlook the mark on options and timing.

A part of the explanation Apple Intelligence appears to be struggling greater than competing cell AI experiences is probably going as a result of firm’s safety and privateness requirements because it tries to maintain the expertise secured on Apple servers end-to-end, one thing no one else appears as involved about implementing.

That may all be effectively and good if solely Apple hadn’t been so brazen about selling Apple Intelligence as the most important promoting level throughout the iPhone 16 line; it merely isn’t prepared but.

As such, the AI expertise on the iPhone 16e is extra novel than important. Primarily based on the timelines business analysts – and in some circumstances Apple itself – are speaking about, the expertise initially promised and the expertise the corporate can ship seemingly received’t align till at the very least the iPhone 17 arrives, if not the iPhone 18 line, in 2027.

Past Apple Intelligence, the 16e provides up a much more acquainted iOS expertise, with loads of energy to run all the apps and companies you’d seemingly need, whereas additionally benefitting from the Motion Button, which by default right here launches Visible Intelligence.

You’ll be able to configure it to launch the digital camera, have interaction Do Not Disturb, toggle the telephone’s flashlight or, in my case, run a Shortcut with the Google app to emulate the expertise of Android’s Circle to Search. Sorry, Apple.

Like charging wattage, Apple doesn’t overtly state what number of generations of working system updates it’s telephones are promised, however based mostly on current type, the iPhone 16e will seemingly be granted entry to at the very least 5 future iterations of iOS, and doubtlessly extra; which helps with the worth proposition on the desk right here.

Value & Availability

Apple launched the iPhone 16e in February 2025. As is customary for the model, storage is pricey, with the bottom 128GB model beginning at £599/$599, the 256GB mannequin costing an extra £100/$100, and the top-tier 512GB configuration hitting an asking value of £899/$899.

Regardless of being essentially the most inexpensive new iPhone, the massive shift the 16e brings about is the lack of a very inexpensive possibility inside Apple’s portfolio.

For context, an equal 128GB 2022 iPhone SE value £469/$479 and key rivals such because the Google Pixel 9a (assessment coming quickly) and Samsung Galaxy A56 value £499/$499 and £499, respectively and Samsung offers you 256GB storage as commonplace as well.

Within the UK, you should purchase the iPhone 16e immediately from Apple, in addition to high retailers like Amazon, John Lewis, Very, Argos, and Currys.

Stateside, you possibly can decide the iPhone 16e up from massive names together with Apple, Finest Purchase and extra.

Try the newest offers on iPhone 16e plans under:

Do you have to purchase the iPhone 16e?

With the weird {hardware} and software program mix that makes up the iPhone 16e, there’s a good quantity of psychological gymnastics wanted to justify its buy to the typical telephone purchaser.

I you need the most cost effective new iPhone or the most cost effective member of the iPhone 16 to restore, that’s the iPhone 16e. In the event you care in regards to the digital camera, show or MagSafe even a bit bit, strike up for the iPhone 16 or 16 Professional, and for those who’re available in the market for an iPhone explicitly due to Apple Intelligence, wait.

Even with out ready for the iPhone 17 sequence, the 16e would possibly nonetheless be the best-value buy for you, however solely as soon as Apple Intelligence is ready to ship on all of the issues Apple has at present promised, by which period the 16e might have fallen in value at third-party retailers anyway.

There’s additionally a world by which it’s extra helpful as an enterprise machine for companies, the place points like digital camera high quality (past having the ability to scan paperwork) and premium options like wi-fi charging are much less important. In that situation, an organization after iPhones with the newest options, backed up by {hardware} and software program dedication that’ll final, would possibly discover the iPhone 16e a terrific match.

What actually condemns the iPhone 16e’s asking value is the iPhone 15 Professional. After greater than a yr of reductions, you will discover it for across the identical value because the 16e, you don’t lose out on Apple Intelligence or the Motion Button and also you achieve quicker charging, MagSafe, a extra succesful triple digital camera, a nicer, brighter 120Hz show, and the Dynamic Island; to call just some upgrades.

In the event you don’t have your coronary heart set on iOS, loads of one of the best mid-range telephones working on Android supply extra for performance and skill for lower than the 16e too.

Specs

• iOS 18 (at launch) w/ Apple Intelligence
• 6.1-inch 60Hz (1170 x 2532) Tremendous Retina XDR OLED
• Apple A18 chipset (four-core GPU variant)
• Apple C1 modem
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB / 256GB / 512GB (NVMe)
• Cameras:
  • 48Mp Fusion 1/2.55-inch f/1.6 fundamental w/ OIS
  • 12Mp f/1.9 selfie digital camera
  • Face ID sensor
• Stereo audio system
• Nano-SIM + twin eSIM (worldwide) / twin eSIM (USA) / twin Nano-SIM (China)
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
• Bluetooth 5.3
• 4005mAh battery
• 25W (approximate) wired charging
• 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm
• 167 grams
• IP68 licensed
• Colors: black, white