The iPhone 16e is the right cellphone on your dad and mom

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 means. It seems like a mix of the iPhone XR and the iPhone 14, solely with a much more trendy chip, a greater show, and a strong digital camera. However it’s not an ideal cellphone package deal and nonetheless lacks key options supplied by comparably priced Android gadgets just like the Pixel 8a (and shortly, the Pixel 9a), together with a better refresh charge show.

Nonetheless, the iPhone 16e is greater than adequate for iPhone customers that do not want the most recent 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 provider and ask for “the most cost effective iPhone that is nonetheless good.” Nonetheless, regardless of doing a whole lot 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 machine 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 geared toward customers on a price range, sporting many in style 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 provides 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 iPhone 16e options practically the identical A18 chip because the iPhone 16 (it options one much less GPU core). The machine’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, Large shade (P3), and options 800 nits of brightness and 1200 nits at peak brightness (HDR).

Concerning its digital camera, the iPhone 16e’s f/1.6 48-megapixel digital camera provides 2x telephoto zoom by sensor cropping right down to 12-megapixels, alongside picture stabilization. On the digital facet, 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 suitable in its show notch (there is not any Dynamic Island, nonetheless). Video assist 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 embrace white and black (that are sort of boring and make me miss the colourful iPhone XR). Different notable specs embrace IP68 water and mud resistance (a most depth of roughly 19ft for as much as half-hour). And eventually, it is price mentioning that the iPhone 16e is the primary Apple cellphone to function its personal C1 modem. I have not accomplished in depth testing, however I did not encounter any connection or pace points tied to Apple’s first modem (we’ll probably see the C1 within the iPhone 17 collection).

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What I appreciated in regards to the iPhone 16e

A solid-feeling machine with spectacular digital camera efficiency

The iPhone 16e feels glorious while you’re holding it in your hand. Its matte rear has a premium feel and appear to it (although it’s a smudge magnet), and its aluminum sides really feel sturdy and easy. I am additionally keen on the lone rear digital camera bump. The iPhone 16 collection digital camera array is sizable and, particularly with regards to the iPhone 16 Pro, it’s kind of of an eyesore. In distinction, the iPhone 16’s lone lens is discreet and modern, which I respect. I hope we see one thing comparable with the iPhone 17 collection’ rear digital camera array.

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 machine features a notch, whereas the latter encompasses 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 am unable to assist however miss the iPhone 16 Professional’s increased refresh charge 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 comparable lens to the iPhone 16, solely with a barely smaller sensor, and its efficiency has been practically an identical in my expertise. Underneath respectable lighting situations, the iPhone 16e snaps nice photographs that rival the iPhone 16’s, providing glorious distinction, shiny colours which might be nonetheless true-to-life, and the flexibility to snap clear photographs, even of shifting objects and folks. Low-light taking pictures is somewhat worse, however the distinction is not notable, and the digital camera appears to deal with white steadiness poorly underneath difficult lighting situations. 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 not 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 important points with the iPhone 16e are its sizable bezels, which I seen 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, just like how the iPhone SE’s bodily House Button made the 2022-released smartphone appear to be 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 embrace the shortage of the Telephone 16 collection’ Photographic Types that occur earlier within the images pipeline. There additionally is not an ultra-wide or zoom lens, both, which implies you possibly can’t shoot macro pictures (although regardless, I discovered I have been in a position to get very near topics when taking pictures photographs).

I additionally suppose anybody upgrading from the iPhone SE line may take concern 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 similar 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 hardly ever use it now, so so far as I am involved, this is not an enormous loss and is sensible within the context of a lower-end machine.

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 when 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 decide to incorporate magnets within the iPhone 16e, particularly given how in style MagSafe equipment are. You should purchase a third-party MagSafe case to add compatibility to the iPhone 16e, however the magnets probably will not be robust sufficient for equipment like my beloved MagSafe PopSocket.

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Must you purchase the iPhone 16e?

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

Would I purchase the iPhone 16e? Undoubtedly not. I do not essentially want the most effective of the most effective 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 charge 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 who want a brand new iPhone and are presently on the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, or perhaps the iPhone SE, who do not wish to shell out the cash for the dear iPhone 16. Actually, I would argue that the iPhone 16e will truly cannibalize the iPhone 16’s gross sales. It provides all of the options that matter to the common individual, alongside a less expensive price ticket. The iPhone 16e will probably make extra sense when the iPhone 17 inevitably launches later this yr with a refined redesign and sought-after upgrades like a 120Hz ProMotion display screen.

This machine was supplied to Pocket-lint by Apple.

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iPhone 16e

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