iPhone 16e: The most affordable way to get the latest iPhone experience
Apple iPhone 16e. Picture: Noel Campion.
Apple has officially retired the SE series, replacing it with a new "e" model — essentially the base version of the standard iPhone 16. Unlike the SE, which focused on a compact form factor, the iPhone 16e closely resembles the iPhone 16 but with a few compromises, such as having only one rear camera.
The 16e is nearly identical to the iPhone 16, albeit slightly thicker. The back glass has a matte finish, offering a premium feel in the hand. The aluminium frame wraps around the device, reinforcing its sturdy build while maintaining Apple’s signature aesthetics.
The iPhone 16e features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with crisp details and vibrant colours. As expected from an OLED panel, you get deeper blacks, bright whites, and sharp text, ensuring a fantastic visual experience whether you're streaming content, gaming, or browsing. The display supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision and boasts 800 nits of typical brightness and a peak of 1,200 nits for HDR content. The large notch remains, housing the selfie camera and Face ID sensors, but unlike the Pro models, there’s no Dynamic Island functionality.The 60Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and swiping less fluid than on phones with higher refresh rates. You won't notice a difference unless you’re coming from a phone with a higher refresh rate. There’s also no always-on display support. Still, compared to older models like the iPhone SE, this is a substantial upgrade in display technology.Ceramic Shield protects the screen, and Apple claims it’s four times more drop-resistant compared to older iPhones, which is reassuring.
The iPhone 16e features stereo speakers that deliver excellent loudness and sound quality.
The iPhone 16e runs on iOS 18, offering the same software experience as the pricier iPhone 16 models. This includes Apple’s new AI-powered "Apple Intelligence" features and deep integration with a ChatGPT-powered assistant. iOS 18.3 also introduces a system-wide dark mode for third-party app icons. Apple promises at least five years of software support for the device.
Under the hood, the iPhone 16e is powered by the A18 chip, ensuring smooth and fast performance. Whether playing AAA games, multitasking, or using AI-powered features, the experience remains fluid and responsive. However, the A18 chipset in the iPhone 16e has one fewer GPU core than the standard iPhone 16. While CPU performance and AI capabilities remain on par with the 16, graphics performance is slightly weaker. However, this isn't noticeable in real-world use. The phone handles multitasking and gaming well, and overall performance feels smooth and snappy. Storage options include 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.
Apple’s new C1 cellular modem debuts on the 16e, promising improved 5G connectivity and power efficiency, leading to better battery life. When combined with the A18 chip, this results in exceptional battery endurance. Apple claims up to 26 hours of video playback, and real-world testing suggests significant improvements over older iPhones. If upgrading from an iPhone 11, you’ll enjoy six extra hours of daily battery life — a significant jump.
The iPhone 16e packs a larger battery than the iPhone 16 – 4,005mAh versus 3,561mAh. Charging speeds are comparable to the iPhone 16, delivering 50% charge in 30 minutes when using an Apple 20W charger. As usual, a charger is not included in the box. Wireless charging is supported, but there’s no MagSafe, which is a pity. Strangely, the Apple silicone case for the iPhone 16e doesn’t include the MagSafe magnets either.
Apple has also improved the iPhone 16e's repairability. The phone’s internal mid-chassis redesign makes replacing key components like the back glass or battery easier, reducing repair costs. Apple has even introduced a new electric current adhesive removal system to simplify battery replacements for repair agents, showing a real effort toward sustainability and user-friendly servicing.
Apple has introduced a 2-in-1 Fusion camera system on the iPhone 16e, which combines a 48MP primary sensor with a 2x (digital) telephoto mode.The portrait mode is now more refined, offering richer background blur effects and improved edge detection. Apple also allows you to shoot portraits in 2x telephoto mode, giving tighter, more professional-looking shots.Good lighting produces impressive levels of detail and a wide dynamic range.The phone can take decent close-up shots, but it can’t match the minimal focusing of the ultrawide camera on the iPhone 16. The 2x digital zoom results remain acceptable, despite a noticeable drop in quality. Low-light performance is decent, with pleasant colours and reasonable detail in well-lit areas.The 12MP front-facing camera with autofocus captures great selfies with good detail, accurate skin tones, and a wide dynamic range.The iPhone 16e can record 4K video at 60fps from both the front and rear cameras. The footage is sharp with vivid colours, strong contrast, and excellent dynamic range. Apple’s stabilisation ensures smooth footage, even in motion.Video performance is solid in low-light conditions, and dynamic range remains good.
The iPhone 16e delivers the signature iPhone design and user experience at a lower price than the iPhone 16, but it comes with several compromises. Whether the cost savings are worth it depends on whether the iPhone 16e offers enough savings to justify the trade-offs.
From €729 apple.ie
