The Apple iPhone 16e is the latest addition to Apple’s portfolio, replacing the iPhone SE and iPhone 14. It boasts a streamlined design, similar to the iPhone 14, with flat sides, an aluminum frame, and a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen. The iPhone 16e, which is powered by the A18 CPU, delivers considerable performance increases and an amazing battery life. The camera system comprises a 48MP rear camera and a 12MP front camera, ensuring high-quality images and movies. In addition, the iPhone 16e features a USB-C charging connector and an Action Button for customizing functionalities. Priced at $599, it is an appealing alternative for anyone wishing to upgrade to a modern and powerful smartphone.
APPLE IPHONE 16E KEY FEATURES
The Apple iPhone 16e includes various new features that make it an appealing option for those seeking a modern and powerful smartphone. Here are some of the notable additions:
- A18 Chip: The iPhone 16e is powered by the latest A18 chip, which includes a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. This provides a significant performance boost over previous models.
- 48MP Fusion Camera: The rear camera features a 48MP Fusion sensor, which combines multiple functions into one lens. This camera supports 4K video recording at up to 60fps.
- 12MP Front Camera: The front-facing camera has been upgraded to 12MP, providing clearer and more detailed selfies.
- USB-C Port: The iPhone 16e has switched to a USB-C port for charging, in compliance with EU regulations.
- Action Button: Replacing the mute switch, the Action Button allows users to assign dedicated functions, such as launching the camera or turning on a flashlight.
- Apple Intelligence: The iPhone 16e integrates Apple Intelligence, an advanced AI assistant that enhances the overall user experience.
- Emergency SOS via Satellite: The iPhone 16e supports Apple’s Emergency SOS satellite texting service, allowing users to stay connected even in remote areas.
- Improved Battery Life: The iPhone 16e offers impressive battery life, making it one of the longest-lasting iPhones in its category.
These new features make the iPhone 16e a powerful and versatile smartphone, offering a blend of modern design, advanced performance, and enhanced camera capabilities.
Pros
- Powerful A17 chip ensures fast performance
- Excellent camera quality with AI enhancements
- Premium build & design at a lower price
- iOS 18 brings AI-driven optimizations
- Reliable battery life & MagSafe support
Cons
- Still no 120Hz refresh rate.
- No telephoto lens for zoom photography
- No USB-C charging port
Apple iPhone 16e Review: Design and Display – A Familiar but Quality Screen
Design: Classic Apple Aesthetics with a Few Tweaks
The Apple iPhone 16e has a design similar to the iPhone 14, with flat corners and an aluminum body. It comes in two sleek matte finishes: black and white. The device is designed to withstand splashes, water, and dust, having an IP68 classification. The Ceramic Shield front cover and robust back glass provide further durability, making it more resistant to scratches and impacts.
- Sleek and durable aluminum frame.
- Glass back with MagSafe support.
- Slimmer bezels for a modern appearance.
- Multiple color options to suit different looks.
- No titanium frame (reserved for professional versions).
Display: Bright and Vibrant, but Still 60Hz
The iPhone 16e features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2532×1170 pixels. The display supports HDR and has brilliant colors, making it ideal for watching films, playing games, and reading text. Despite the typical notch shape, the display’s peak brightness of 1200 nits ensures good visibility in bright outdoor circumstances.
- OLED panel featuring Super Retina XDR technology
- High brightness provides excellent outdoor visibility.
- True Tone and HDR support for true colors.
- Limited to 60Hz refresh rate (no ProMotion).
Apple iPhone 16e Review: Camera System – Capable but Lacking Pro Features
The Apple iPhone 16e includes a competent and adaptable camera system that produces high-quality images and videos. Here are the main details:
Rear Camera: The rear camera features a 48MP Fusion sensor that integrates many functions into a single lens. This camera enables 4K video recording at up to 60fps and includes in-sensor cropping for a 2X optical zoom. Improves image quality by adjusting settings and processing in real time. Deep Fusion enhances image quality and texture, particularly in low-light circumstances. Maintains balanced exposure and vibrant colors under varying lighting conditions.
- Sharper, high-resolution photos with better detail.
- Enhanced Night Mode for Better Low-Light Photos
- Smart HDR 5 provides balanced exposure and dynamic range.
- Sensor-shift optical image stabilization allows for steadier photos.
Front Camera: The enhanced 12MP FaceTime camera allows for crisper and more detailed selfies. It enables 4K video recording at 60 frames per second.
- 4K recording at 60 fps.
- Cinematic Mode for Portrait-Style Videos.
- Night Mode with Deep Fusion for Better Low-Light Selfies
Additional features: The iPhone 16e includes Apple Intelligence capabilities including Visual Intelligence, which enables the camera to study and recognize objects, and the Clean Up Tool, which removes undesired elements from photos. Filters away background noise from videos to ensure clearer audio quality.
- 4K video recording with 24/30/60fps.
- Cinematic Mode enables seamless focus shifts.
- Action Mode for Stabilized Motion Shots.
Apple iPhone 16e Review: Software, Hardware and Performance – Smooth, Fast, and Future-Proof
Software: iOS 18 Brings AI and Refinements
The iPhone 16e runs iOS 18.4, which provides a smooth and straightforward user experience. The most recent iOS version contains several new features and enhancements, including updated privacy settings, redesigned widgets, and greater multitasking capabilities. The integration of Apple Intelligence adds advanced AI features like Visual Intelligence and the Clean Up Tool, which improves the entire user experience.
- AI-powered Siri is smarter, more responsive, and capable of processing complicated requests.
- Customizable Home and Lock Screen – More widgets and interactive components.
- Enhanced Privacy Controls – New security measures for app permissions and tracking.
- Apple Ecosystem Integration – Works seamlessly with Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch.
- Long-Term Software Updates – Support is expected for at least five years.
Hardware: Powerful Yet Practical
The iPhone 16e is powered by the A18 chip, which contains a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. This delivers a significant improvement in performance over prior models. The gadget has 8GB of RAM, which allows for smooth multitasking and prepares the device for future software updates. The iPhone 16e comes in three storage options: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, providing plenty of Apple room for apps, images, and videos.
- Aluminum frame with glass back (lightweight yet sturdy)
- IP68 water and dust resistance (can survive splashes and immersion)
- 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU for powerful processing.
- Ideal for gaming, video editing, and demanding applications.
- 128GB – ideal for light users.
- 256GB – Ideal for individuals who store a large number of images and videos.
- 512GB – ideal for power users and content makers.
Performance: A17 Bionic Delivers Speed and Efficiency
In terms of performance, the iPhone 16e gives excellent results. The A18 chip provides fast and responsive performance, whether you’re gaming, streaming, or multitasking. Benchmark testing reveals that the iPhone 16e performs well in both single-core and multi-core scenarios. The smartphone also supports USB-C fast charging up to 29W, allowing for quick and efficient charging.
- Fast app loading and smooth multitasking.
- Handles intensive games such as Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile smoothly.
- AI-powered enhancements for battery efficiency
- Improved thermal management to avoid overheating.
Apple iPhone 16e Review: Battery & Charging – Reliable but No Big Upgrades
Battery Life: The Apple iPhone 16e comes with a 4000mAh battery, which provides an exceptional battery life. In tests, the iPhone 16e lasted up to 26 hours of video playback, making it one of the most durable iPhones to date. With combined usage, such as video streaming, surfing, and making calls, the gadget may easily survive a whole day on a single charge. The power efficiency of the A18 chip and the new Apple C1 modem help to increase battery life.
- Up to 20 hours of video playback.
- Up to 75 hours of audio playback.
- All-day battery life for normal use (social media, online surfing, streaming, and light gaming)
Charging: The iPhone 16e supports 29W wired charging, which allows for fast charging times. It also supports Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W. However, it does not support MagSafe charging, a capability that has been available since the iPhone 12 series. Despite this, the iPhone 16e benefits from the A18 chip’s power efficiency, which improves battery performance.
- Fast Charging: Up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adaptor.
- MagSafe Wireless Charging: Up to 15W via Qi wireless. Charging: up to 7.5W.
- No USB-C (still utilizing the Lightning port).
- No charger is included in the box.
FULL SPECIFICATION
Network | Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
Launch | Announced | 2025, February 19 |
Status | Coming soon. Exp. release 2025, February 28 | |
Body | Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.31 in) |
Weight | 167 g (5.89 oz) | |
Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | |
SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) | |
IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | ||
Display | Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
Size | 6.1 inches, 91.4 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) | |
Resolution | 1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~457 ppi density) | |
Protection | Ceramic Shield glass | |
Platform | OS | iOS 18.3.1 |
Chipset | Apple A18 (3 nm) | |
CPU | Hexa-core (2×4.04 GHz + 4×2.20 GHz) | |
GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | |
Memory | Card slot | No |
Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | |
NVMe | ||
Main Camera | Single | 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), PDAF, OIS |
Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama, 3D (spatial) audio | |
Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec. | |
Selfie camera | Single | 12 MP, f/1.9, (wide), AF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
Features | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR, 3D (spatial) audio, stereo sound rec. | |
Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, HDR | |
Sound | Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers |
3.5mm jack | No | |
Comms | WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | |
Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | |
NFC | Yes | |
Radio | No | |
USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | |
Features | Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite | ||
Battery | Type | Li-Ion |
Charging | Wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi) | |
Misc | Colors | Black, White |
Models | A3212, A3409, A3410, A3408, iPhone17,5 |
