Apple just lately launched the iPhone 16e, and whereas the response hasn’t precisely been universally optimistic, it’s created fairly a buzz.
The telephone has strong specs, however that £599/$599 price ticket is a bit baffling. Sitting simply £200/$200 beneath the usual iPhone 16 and solely £100/$100 lower than the still-very-capable iPhone 15, it’s positioned at an odd value that makes it onerous to suggest.
On one hand, the iPhone 16e lacks MagSafe, nonetheless has that historic notch as an alternative of the smooth Dynamic Island, and solely has a single digicam. That’s a tricky promote when the iPhone 15, which prices just a bit extra, has a full digicam setup, MagSafe, and a extra trendy design.
Alternatively, the iPhone 16e does have Apple Intelligence baked in, which might be a game-changer for some customers. However is it sufficient?
Eugen Wegmann
Nevertheless, the iPhone 16e does have a trick up its sleeve within the type of Apple’s brand-new C1 chip, its first-ever in-house modem. In line with Ming-Chi Kuo, even the iPhone 17 sequence gained’t have the C1 chip, other than the rumoured Slim mannequin.
The C1 is Apple’s first mobile modem to be made in-house. Till now, Apple has been shopping for them from Qualcomm, which appears to be like set to proceed on its different handsets.
A modem is a vital part in any smartphone, permitting you to connect with mobile networks and guarantee secure, constant speeds. In line with our sister web site Macworld, speeds are slower than iPhones that use Qualcomm modems, however not by a lot.
That may clarify why Apple selected to debut the C1 in its extra reasonably priced handset. Rolling it out to the complete iPhone 17 sequence can be an enormous danger.
Nevertheless, there’s no denying that the iPhone 16e is getting cutting-edge expertise. If it finally ends up being pretty much as good as Apple is hoping for, it’d give the 16e the higher hand over costlier handsets.