The iPhone 16e is the proper cellphone on your dad...

That headline is not a slight at Apple.

With the iPhone 16e, Apple has pared down the iPhone 16’s key options in a wise approach. It seems like a mix of the iPhone XR and the iPhone 14, solely with a much more fashionable chip, a greater show, and a strong digital camera. But it surely’s not an ideal cellphone package deal and nonetheless lacks key options provided by comparably priced Android units just like the Pixel 8a (and shortly, the Pixel 9a), together with the next refresh price show.

Nevertheless, the iPhone 16e is greater than ok for iPhone customers that do not want the newest and biggest from Apple. That is the cellphone for individuals like my dad and mom that stroll into their native Apple Retailer or wi-fi service and ask for “the most affordable iPhone that is nonetheless good.” Nonetheless, regardless of doing lots of issues proper, the iPhone 16e is roughly $100 too costly within the US at $599, and it is much more dear in different areas (in Canada, the iPhone 16e prices an astounding $999).

This makes the iPhone 16e really feel far much less of an entry system than its specs would recommend. Which is a disgrace, because it’s in any other case a strong addition to the iPhone household.

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Apple iPhone 16e

Apple’s new iPhone 16e is aimed toward customers on a finances, sporting many well-liked iPhone options whereas being priced a lot decrease than its flagship counterpart, the iPhone 16.

Professionals & Cons

• Feels premium
• Digicam snaps nice photographs
• A18 chip gives snappy efficiency

• Roughly $100 too costly
• Sizable bezels
• No ultra-wide lens

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Worth, availability, and specs

Apple’s iPhone 16e begins at $599 from Apple’s web site and different retailers. First off, it is necessary to notice that the system options almost the identical A18 chip because the iPhone 16 (simply with one much less GPU core). The cellphone’s Tremendous Retina XDR OLED show measures in at 6.1-inches, with a decision of 2532 x 1170 pixels at 460ppi. The iPhone 16e’s display screen helps HDR, True Tone, Broad colour (P3), and options 800 nits of brightness and 1200 nits at peak brightness (HDR).

Relating to its digital camera, the iPhone 16e’s f/1.6 48-megapixel digital camera gives 2x telephoto zoom via sensor cropping right down to 12-megapixels, alongside picture stabilization. On the digital aspect, the cellphone can hit 10x digital zoom. On the entrance, the iPhone 16e options an f/1.9 12-megapixel TrueDepth digital camera system that is Face ID appropriate in its show notch (there is not any Dynamic Island, nevertheless). Video help maxes out at 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient video recording at 60fps, although most individuals will most likely go for 1080p 30fps.

The iPhone 16e is obtainable with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB of storage. Colours embody white and black (that are type of boring and make me miss the colourful iPhone XR). Different notable specs embody IP68 water and dirt resistance (a most depth of roughly 19ft for as much as half-hour). And at last, it is price mentioning that the iPhone 16e is the primary Apple cellphone to function its personal C1 modem. I have never executed intensive testing, however I did not encounter any connection or pace points tied to Apple’s first modem (we’ll seemingly see the C1 within the iPhone 17 sequence).

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The iPhone 16 offers nearly everything I want from a phone

Apple’s base iPhone is a strong, all-around system that basically ought to function a 120Hz refresh price show.

What I appreciated in regards to the iPhone 16e

A solid-feeling system with spectacular digital camera efficiency

The iPhone 16e feels wonderful whenever you’re holding it in your hand. Its matte rear has a premium appear and feel to it (although it’s a smudge magnet), and its aluminum sides really feel sturdy and clean. I am additionally keen on the lone rear digital camera bump. The iPhone 16 sequence digital camera array is sizable and, particularly in terms of the iPhone 16 Pro, it is a bit of an eyesore. In distinction, the iPhone 16’s lone lens is simple and modern, which I admire. I hope we see one thing related with the iPhone 17 sequence’ rear digital camera array regardless of it that includes a number of lenses.

Shifting to the show, it is nice that Apple opted for an OLED display screen with the iPhone 16e’s 6.1-inch display screen. When evaluating the iPhone 16e’s and iPhone 16’s screens side-by-side, each telephones function great-looking shows, although the previous system features a notch, whereas the latter contains a extra modern-looking Dynamic Island. Content material is vibrant, whether or not I am doom-scrolling on Threads or watching YouTube movies, however I can not assist however miss the iPhone 16 Professional’s larger refresh price show (extra on this later).

On the digital camera entrance, I have been very impressed with the iPhone 16e’s 48-megapixel shooter. It is a very related lens to the iPhone 16, solely with a barely smaller sensor, and its efficiency has been almost equivalent in my expertise. Below respectable lighting circumstances, the iPhone 16e snaps nice photographs that rival the iPhone 16’s, providing wonderful distinction, brilliant colours which might be nonetheless true-to-life, and the flexibility to snap clear photographs, even of shifting objects and other people. Low-light capturing is a bit worse than the iPhone 16, however the distinction is not notable, and the digital camera appears to deal with white steadiness poorly underneath difficult lighting circumstances. The 2x zoom sensor crop is spectacular, too, and rivals the iPhone 16’s in my expertise.

Because of the A18 chip, efficiency is strong throughout the board, and in my roughly one week with the iPhone 16e, I have never encountered a single occasion of lag. For people who care about benchmarks, the iPhone 16e hits 1,927 for single-core and 4,974 for multi-core on Geekbench 6.

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What I did not like in regards to the iPhone 16e

Massive bezels and a large notch may flip some individuals off

My two most vital points with the iPhone 16e are its sizable bezels, which I observed the primary time I picked up the smartphone, and its show notch. Each iPhone XR/iPhone 14 period design options make the iPhone 16e look far older than it truly is, much like how the iPhone SE’s bodily House Button made the 2022-released smartphone seem like 2017’s iPhone 8.

It is also disappointing that Apple opted for a 60Hz display screen, identical to it was with the iPhone 16. That is way more forgivable than it was with the iPhone 16, given the iPhone 16e goals to be Apple’s entry-level providing. Different downsides embody the shortage of the Cellphone 16 sequence’ Photographic Types that occur earlier within the pictures pipeline. There additionally is not an ultra-wide or zoom lens both, which implies you’ll be able to’t shoot macro pictures (although I’ve discovered I have been capable of get very near topics when capturing photographs).

I additionally suppose anybody upgrading from the iPhone SE line may take situation with the iPhone 16e’s lack of a House Button since, anecdotally, I do know a number of older individuals who caught with the positively ancient-looking smartphone solely for the bodily button. On the identical time, I would say that these individuals want to surrender the bodily House Button, as a result of at this level, swipe navigation has been round for a number of years (it is fairly intuitive, too). Talking of buttons, whereas the iPhone 16e options an Motion Button, there is not any Digicam Management button. Whereas I used to be initially very into the Digicam Management button and its refined changes on my iPhone 16 Professional, I discover that I not often use it now, so so far as I am involved, this is not an enormous loss and is smart within the context of a lower-end system.

Will the iPhone 16e’s target market care about these lacking options and points, notably the much less succesful digital camera specs? Most likely not, however they’re nonetheless price noting, particularly in case you’re deciding between shopping for the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16. The one exception to this rule is MagSafe. I actually do not perceive why Apple did not choose to incorporate magnets within the iPhone 16e, particularly given how well-liked MagSafe equipment are. You should purchase a third-party MagSafe case to add compatibility to the iPhone 16e, however the magnets seemingly will not be robust sufficient for equipment like my beloved MagSafe PopSocket.

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Do you have to purchase the iPhone 16e?

That is an entry-level system for a really particular iPhone consumer

Would I purchase the iPhone 16e? Positively not. I do not essentially want one of the best of one of the best on a regular basis, however I would miss the Dynamic Island and I am not keen on the sizable bezels. There are different components, too, like the shortage of a better refresh price show, and I’ve grown very keen on taking part in round with Photographic Types.

I am clearly not the iPhone 16e’s viewers, although. This cellphone is for those that want a brand new iPhone and are at the moment on the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, or possibly the iPhone SE, who do not need to shell out the cash for the dear iPhone 16. In reality, I would argue that the iPhone 16e will truly cannibalize the iPhone 16’s gross sales. It gives all of the options that matter to the common particular person, alongside a less expensive price ticket. The iPhone 16e will seemingly make extra sense from a worth and have perspective when the iPhone 17 inevitably launches later this yr with a rumored refined redesign and sought-after upgrades like a 120Hz ProMotion display screen.

This system was supplied to Pocket-lint by Apple.

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iPhone 16e

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