When it was announced last week as a member of the iPhone 16 family we didn’t quite know where it sat or if this was expensive for a cheap iPhone or great value for an iPhone 16. Our iPhone 16e Review is really quite simple, this thing is epic value when you look at it against every single iPhone there is.
If you take the time to look at every feature of the iPhone and compare the iPhone 16e to the standard iPhone 16 you get a long list of things that are different – in most cases missing from the iPhone 16e. But, I don’t think it matters.
And look, if you disagree – that’s ok, that means the standard or Pro iPhone are more for you.
Personally though, I’d be weighing up the value based on what you NEED not what you think you need. This phone is $999 – that’s $400 cheaper than the iPhone 16 – come on, that’s ridiculous.
What’s different about the iPhone 16e compared to iPhone 16?
It’s a long list, and a lot of these differences are specs that you might never have even considered, or understood.
The Graphics processor as part of the A18 chip powering this device is just 4 cores not 5. Yep, that means a degradation in performance but only in gaming and things like perhaps rendering videos.
For the iPhone 16 range Apple introduced the “Camera Control” button, that’s missing from the 16e, as is a whole lens on the back of this device. The single camera you do get is the same 48 Megapixel camera which allows 1x and 2x shooting. The 2x is not a physical glass lens, instead it’s a crop in on the 48 megapixel image.
You can’t do Macro shots, and you can’t do spatial photos. The photographic styles in the camera app are not the same as the iPhone 16 . Also, there’s no cinematic mode in video, nor can you use Action mode.
However, the Apple C1 mobile chip and some other tweaks mean a quoted 26 hours battery life – four more than the 16, 6 more than a 15. That’s huge, and I noticed a strong all-day performance from this device.
Around the front the screen has the same Ceramic Shield as the iPhone 15, and while the Pixel density is the same as iPhone 16, the brightness levels are lower across the board.
While it’s 3grams lighter you’ll barely notice, and there’s a narrow difference in height and width.
It’s connected with WiFi 6 not WiFi 7 and some other tiny connectivity changes.
Perhaps the most notable thing missing is MagSafe wireless charging. It has Qi wireless with 7.5W charging, but no magnetic attach with higher wireless speeds.
Honestly, that’s the big one for me, I love my standby mode bedside clock. But – get yourself a case for the iPhone 16e that has magnets and you’re off and running – they will sell like hotcakes.
Do you notice those differences?
In short, no. Now I use more regularly the iPhone 16 Pro, so I did miss the 5x zoom a couple of times, but honestly there’s no planet on which we compare the Pro models to the 16e.
I actually found the photos on iPhone 16e to be a bit more colour rich than even my 16 Pro, but the detail was faultless in every photo.
Even in portrait mode, with a single lens camera, the iPhone 16e is just sensational – compared to the iPhone 16 Pro!
I’d struggle to believe many people would find any issues using the iPhone 16e as opposed to the 16 and the reason that’s critical is because this phone is really made to entice owners of the iPhone X, or 11, or even older SE models to look at their upgrade options.
Critical to that is the A18 chip, which means Apple Intelligence works on iPhone 16e – I was able to get writing assistance, summon ChatGPT through Siri and use the Image Playground with ease on iPhone 16e.
That A18 performance means this device will be on par with iPhone 16 models for many years for any cool new software updates.
Should you buy the iPhone 16e?
Most certainly. This device offers so much performance for a price that makes it seem crazy.
The way to think about this, and the thing that took me some days to come to terms with was – this is not an expensive iPhone SE – this is a far more affordable iPhone 16. With that in mind, I envisage big orders of the iPhone 16e from corporate IT teams – that’s a no brainer.
And I’d take full advantage of any trade in offers the Teclos are putting out there if you’ve got an older phone, as well as consider those decent plan deals being offered. Still, buying outright is the smartest move, allowing you to push yourself to whatever telco you choose any month of the year.
While I love and respect the innovation and boundaries being pushed by the premium iPhone 16 range, you can’t help but respect just how much has been jammed into this iPhone 16e at $999.
Next up, we’re going to find out what a 14 year old Girl thinks of the iPhone 16e compared to the iPhone 13 Pro, and what an 18 year old with an iPhone 14 Pro thinks when he switches to the iPhone 16e – Will Apple Intelligence help win them over?
Web: Apple
Trev is a Technology Commentator, Dad, Speaker and Rev Head.
He produces and hosts two popular podcasts, EFTM and Two Blokes Talking Tech. He also appears on over 50 radio stations across Australia weekly, and is the resident Tech Expert on Channel 9’s Today Show each day and appears regularly on A Current Affair.
Father of three, he is often found down in his Man Cave.
