Apple finally brought back its entry-level phone, the iPhone 16e. The three-year gap from the previous model release gave Apple time to implement a big refresh, including the addition of Apple Intelligence, supported by the A18 chipset, an Apple modem, a larger battery capacity, more storage options, and Face ID, to name a few.
The best part — it is all packaged into a $599 price tag, hundreds of dollars cheaper than the base iPhone 16 model.
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To find out how the iPhone 16e compares to the rest of the lineup, I switched out my iPhone 16 Pro, which I have been using every day since its release in September, to the iPhone 16e. My findings: I am equally as impressed as I am bewildered. I will go in-depth below.
1. The software ft. Apple Intelligence
From the software standpoint, the iPhone 16e delivers everything it promises. The transition from the iPhone 16 Pro to the iPhone 16e was absolutely seamless because both have the same silicon, which allows them to run the latest iOS to its full capacity, including all of the Apple Intelligence features.
This means that despite the lower price tag and not having as many GPU cores as other A18 variants in the iPhone 16 lineup, the iPhone 16e still enabled me to access all of the same Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools, Notification Summaries, Image Playground, Clean Up, and my favorite, Genmoji.
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Most importantly, when the full suite of Apple Intelligence features rolls out, iPhone 16e users will have access to it in its entirety. Users with an iPhone 15 model or lower cannot access it.
Apple Intelligence is meant to be a “personal intelligence” system grounded in your personal information and context. It can retrieve data from across your apps and reference the content on your screen. iPhone 16e users will have access to this advanced assistance while still saving a couple of hundred dollars on the initial device.
2. Cameras (or lack of)
The front camera of the iPhone 16e is the same as the other iPhone 16 lineup: a 12MP front-facing camera, meaning that your selfies will be exactly the same. However, a quick glance at the back of the iPhone 16e reveals that the camera system is significantly more primitive than that of the iPhone 16 Pro.
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The iPhone 16e features a 48MP wide camera on the back with an integrated 2x Telephoto, which, although an upgrade from the previous model, might be a deal-breaker for photo enthusiasts. As expected, I found that the iPhone 16 Pro’s dual‑camera system produces more polished photos than the 16e’s dual-functioning camera. My biggest struggle has been not having the 12MP Ultra Wide camera, which I constantly use on the iPhone 16 Pro to take .5x photos.
Because of the lower-grade camera, some of the more advanced features found on iPhone 16 Pro, such as shooting ProRaw or cinematic video, are unavailable. However, the smartphone can still take beautiful photos, so if you are not looking to take the highest-quality photos and just want to capture memories, this is still a solid option.
3. Missing Dynamic Island/Camera Control
The biggest difference in the form factor of the iPhone 16e, other than the slightly smaller 6.1-inch size, is the lack of a Dynamic Island and Camera Control button. Even though the lack of these two elements makes it look more like the iPhone 14 and, therefore, a bit dated, their absence didn’t impact my day. In fact, it made me think about when I use either of the features, and the answer is rarely.
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On the iPhone 16 Pro, I do enjoy using the Camera Control button to open the camera and snap photos more conveniently without having to click the shutter button in the middle of the screen. However, because the iPhone 16e includes a Control Button, all I did was map the camera to it and was able to use it the same way I rely on Camera Control.
Honorable Mentions
The iPhone 16e has some other compelling features not mentioned above, including:
- Its lightweight: Having a phone in my back pocket as light as the iPhone 16e is so refreshing after carrying around much heavier models for years. The iPhone 16e weighs 5.88 ounces (167 grams), and the iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs 7.03 ounces (199 grams).
- Apple C1 Modum: The iPhone 16e also features Apple’s first in-house 5G modem, the Apple C1. This modem is a step away from the traditional Qualcomm processor and is meant to grant users a fast and reliable 5G connection. In the long run, it should optimize battery life. In my experience, my service has been exactly the same, which is the intended goal.
- Battery Life: The iPhone 16e offers up to 26 hours of video playback, which is the metric Apple uses to measure battery life. This means that older model users will see a massive improvement. For example, iPhone 11 users will get six more hours of battery life with the upgrade. The iPhone 16 offers up to 26 hours of video playback, only a bit more.
Overall, it is a solid phone for people willing to forgo some of the bells and whistles of the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup. From my testing, the biggest sacrifice will be the ultra-wide lens and advanced photography and videography features, but if you are not interested in photography, this may not be an issue for everyday shots.