Create and Construct

Like the iPhone 14, the new iPhone 16e comes with a manicure and a striking design, aka a look with breathtaking. Furthermore, it is equipped with aerospace-grade aluminum casing, a front glass Sapphire Shield, and even a satin glass rear, which sharply decreases fingerprints. More importantly, at 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm), and weighing 5.88 ounces (167g), the device is nearly 5 grams lighter than the iPhone 16, and thus more compact,t making it easier to clutch and hold. The phone comes in two matte \ black \ white colors - true to elegance, devoid of the vivid schemes reserved for its more expensive counterparts. Furthermore, this model replaces the mute button with the customizable Action Block for effortless feature access, like the camera or Visual Intelligence, making things easier.

• Aerospace-grade aluminum enclosure
• Ceramic Shield front (tougher than any smartphone glass)
• Matte glass back for fingerprint resistance
• IP68 rating
• Action Button
• USB-C port to charge and send data
• No physical SIM card slot

In order to save costs for the iPhone 16e, features such as MagSafe and the Dynamic Island have been excluded, maintaining the notch design from the iPhone 14. While many users might argue that MagSafe offered various accessories to enhance the phone, it still supports wireless Qi charging at 7.5W. Furthermore, third-party cases can provide MagSafe compatibility, though at reduced speeds. The removal of a home button signifies the end to Apple’s sub 6.1 inch iPhones. This aligns the 16e with modern iPhone features like full-screen navigation, and Face ID through the TrueDepth camera system.

iPhone 16e Display

With the increase in screen size, the iPhone 16e now has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, which is a great upgrade in comparison to the previous iPhone SE’s 4.7-inch LCD display. Providing a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels (460 PPI), the display is capable of providing sharper and more vivid imagery to users for HDR10 and Dolby Vision content. The iPhone 16e’s display is identical to the iPhone 14, which features a notch designed for Face ID but not the Dynamic Island present in the iPhone 16. The device has a typical brightness of 800 nits and a peak brightness of 1200 nits, enabling it to remain visible under bright lighting. However, the display has a 60Hz refresh rate, which is considered low when compared to budget Android phones offering a 90Hz or higher refresh rate.

• 6.1-inch OLED
• 2532 x 1170
• HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
• 800 nits (typical)
• Ceramic Shield
• 60Hz refresh rate

While the display is satisfactory for media consumption and day-to-day use, the 60Hz refresh rate alongside the lack of Always-On Display – a feature exclusive to the Pro models – stands as a notable compromise. Reviewers commend its clarity, but feel like the notch design is obsolete next to the Dynamic Island, but it does not impede functionality.

Software and Processor

The iPhone 16e is powered by the A18 chipset, which is shared with the iPhone 16. However, there is a reduction in the GPU core count from 5 to 4. Regardless, the average performance on applications, gaming, and Apple Intelligence is still flagship level. A mid-grade CPU equipped with a 6-core (2 performance cores & 4 efficiency cores ) brings performant resources. This puts the iPhone 16e 80% faster than A13 Bionic processor on the iPhone 11, which means incredibly improved CPU performance. Alongside this, the device is also equipped with a 16-core Neural Engine, which enables a wide range of features that AI switches control with. They also made the reasonable decision to equip it with 8GB of RAM, more than double that of the iPhone SE, which has 4GB, and 128/256/512GB of storage. This makes the phone extremely effective at multitasking alongside demanding activities like AAA gaming. The iPhone 16e also comes with iOS 18.3.1 out of the box, which can be updated to iOS 18.4. It guarantees more than 5 years of software updates.

• A18 chip
• 8GB RAM
• Storage: 128GB ($599), 256GB ($699), 512GB ($899)
• iOS 18.3.1

Thanks to the A18’s efficiency, in combination with the Apple C1 modem, they both deliver exceptional battery stamina and performance. However, the iPhone 16’s 5-core GPU is slightly more capable than the 4-core GPU in the 16e in graphically demanding workloads, albeit the real-life difference is almost non-existent for the majority of users. Features such as smart search in Safari or smart replies in Mail increase productivity, though some users seem to be having some issues with Bluetooth audio stutters, which is likely a software error.

Camera System

Snapdragon 778G powers the Samsung Galaxy A82 5G with maximum configuration, including 8GB RAM. The rear camera is a single 48MP Fusion camera with an aperture of f/1.6 (26mm) and Optical Image Stabilization(OIS) for shooting super high-resolution photos at 24MP and 48MP. The camera has 2x in sensor zoom(52mm, f/1.6), enabling it to function like a telephoto lens. However, it does not come with an ultra-wide camera, which limits spatial video and macro photography. The front camera is 12MP, f/1.9, and is responsible for Face ID, autofocus, and selfies. Video recording is up to 4K Dolby Vision at 60fps and includes features like Audio Mix for isolating voice, wind noise reduction and other features.

• Rear: 48MP
• 2x Telephoto
• Front: 12MP
• Video: 4K Dolby Vision at 60 fps, 1080p at 240 fps slo-mo
• Modes: Night, Portrait, Photographic
• Audio Mix
• Action Button

Reviewers would like to praise the camera performance in low light and clarity, which rivals the primary sensor of the iPhone 16, although the absence of an ultra-wide lens is a downside for group or landscape shots.

Battery Specifications

The best battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone goes to the iPhone 16e which has a 3961mAh battery (bigger than iPhone 16’s 3561mAh). It offers up to 26 hours of video playback, which is 6 hours more than the iPhone 11 and 12 hours more than the iPhone SE. The A18 chip, along with the Apple C1 modem, helps with power efficiency. Their boost is shown in real-life tests to give 21 hours 37 minutes in drain tests, beating the iPhone 16 by almost 4 hours. Its charging options include 20W wired (giving 50% charge in 30 minutes) and 7.5W Qi wireless. However, the lack of MagSafe poses issues regarding accessorizing.

• 3,961mAh battery
• Up to 26 hours
• 20W wired charging
• 7.5W Qi wireless charging
• (USB-C cable only)

Connectivity

This is the first sub-6 GHz modem from Apple and 5G C1, which is designed for efficiency but lacks mmWave support like on the iPhone 16. Its performance regarding downloading content matches the iPhone 16 Pro. Furthermore, it boasts faster upload speed without any notable connectivity issues.

• Apple C1 5G
• Wi-Fi 6
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Dual eSIM
• NFC with reader mode
• Satellite: Emergency SOS
• GPS: GPS, GLONASS
• No U2 ultra-wideband
        

Pricing and Availability

Starting with the base model priced at 599for128GB,or599for128GB,or699 for 256GB and $899 for 512GB, the iPhone 16e is set to release on February 28, 2025. Pre-orders begin February 21. Apple, Verizon, T-Mobile, and various retailers will be selling the phone. Users can also trade in their old devices through Apple’s Trade In program to receive credit towards the purchase.