Apple iPhone 16e Review: When You Just Need an iPhone

On the Android aspect of issues, selecting a cellphone is an extraordinarily sophisticated resolution. Unless you might be brand-loyal, there are tonnes of options to be accounted for earlier than one arrives at a choice. And it is because they arrive in all styles and sizes, with various {hardware} configurations and even completely different software program experiences, regardless that they’re all primarily based on Google’s Android. On the iOS aspect of issues, nicely… not a lot.

If your previous trusty iPhone 12 went underneath a bus, and Apple Care will not cowl it formally, you’ve gotten 4 new and up to date iPhones to select from. Or, you go down that slippery slope the place it’s essential begin weighing the professionals and cons of older {hardware} working on newer and extra demanding software program. And then there’s the truth that the older your iPhone is, the much less software program help you’re going to get.

Until final month, the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 15, together with their Plus-sized counterparts, had been the one iPhones to select from for non-Pro iPhone customers. Apple has now launched a brand new iPhone mannequin known as the iPhone 16e. It’s obtained some new {hardware} bits inside however is available in an previous shell. It additionally cuts down on options many affiliate an iPhone with. It’s priced from Rs. 59,999 in India (for the bottom 128GB variant), which is comparatively excessive given the {hardware} on supply. But after utilizing it for every week, it actually made me query — what makes an iPhone at present.

Apple iPhone 16e Design: Notch a good suggestion!

• Dimensions – 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.8mm
• Weight – 167g
• Durability – IP68

In an age the place Android smartphone producers try to make the selfie digital camera disappear (or seem solely when wanted), Apple has launched a premium iPhone in 2025 with a sink-shaped notch. It’s not simply the notch but in addition the thick borders surrounding the show that immediately make it seem like an iPhone launched no less than two years in the past.

The iPhone 16e appears to be like like an iPhone SE (2022/2020), and an iPhone 14 (2022) had a child.

 

While this can be a turn-off for a lot of, evaluating it with the iPhone 15 Pro Max I reviewed earlier made me admire the abomination that’s Dynamic Island launched with the iPhone 14 Pro sequence.

I’ve at all times felt that Dynamic Island was a step backwards for Apple as a substitute of a step ahead. Two years in, Dynamic Island nonetheless will get in the way in which of viewing content material, not simply on Pro fashions however even on smaller shows just like the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16, together with their Plus-sized counterparts. Heck, it even expands and contracts, which makes it much more distracting on a smaller show.

The iPhone 16e’s thick show borders and old-school notch left me wanting the capsule-shaped Dynamic Island

 

But one take a look at the iPhone 16e, and I used to be immediately offered on how neater and smaller Dynamic Island seems in comparison with the previous notch. At the identical time, the notch on the 16e did make me admire the “simple life”, the place my cellphone doesn’t have to relay each reside exercise (from numerous apps) to me on the prime of the show on a regular basis. This is extra so as a result of I can already entry the identical exercise by reaching for the Notifications Centre or the lock display.

Given that this cellphone is priced between Rs. 59,900 and Rs. 89,900, it’s a bit surprising that Apple hasn’t bothered to supply any color choices. It hints that when you want some color in your life, it’s essential pony up and improve to an iPhone 15/16.

An IP68 ranking gives good safety in opposition to the weather, however do take into account that “Liquid damage is not covered under warranty.”

A easy rear digital camera setup ends in a slimmer total design

 

Apple iPhone 16e Display: Is 60Hz nonetheless “smooth”?

• Display dimension – 6.1-inch, 1,170 x 2,532 pixels, 460ppi
• Display sort – OLED, 60Hz
• Display safety – Ceramic Shield

Apple followers proceed to provide in and purchase iPhones at abnormally excessive costs, permitting the corporate to comfortably gatekeep such options till one thing thrilling exhibits up for the Pro fashions. Partially, this might be all the way down to the truth that if you have not used ProMovement on an iPhone, you’ll by no means know what it appears like.

Having used 120Hz shows even on entry-level (sub-Rs. 10,000) Android smartphones, switching to the 60Hz panel did take some getting used to. My thoughts needed to adapt to the marginally uneven body fee and barely sluggish responsiveness. I might need to inform you that is it isn’t an enormous distinction, nevertheless it actually onerous to get your mind cells to work with a 60Hz panel upon getting used a 120Hz show.

Did I miss a high-refresh-rate panel? Yes! Did I would like it? Not actually.

 

Apart from the marginally uneven look, the show (which appears to be borrowed from the iPhone 14) is an effective one. Colours appeared pure, and the 460PPI meant that each textual content and pictures appeared tack sharp. The show can be vivid (although not as vivid because the Pro fashions). And so utilizing it outdoor was not an issue. It additionally helps Dolby Vision, and the content material appeared as anticipated.

Apple iPhone 16e Software: BAU

• Software model – iOS 18.3
• Software dedication – 5 years

After experiencing an official demo by Apple in a managed surroundings, I used to be not too satisfied about Apple Intelligence and its usefulness when stacked in opposition to what Samsung’s Galaxy and Google’s Pixel smartphones are able to as of late.

The solely characteristic that caught my consideration was Visual Intelligence, which could be triggered by the Action Button to study your environment. Tap the ‘Ask’ button to get particulars about an object in entrance of you, and it delivers a fast abstract utilizing ChatGPT.

Apple’s iOS desperately wants an overhaul, and the most recent experiences point out that there’s a main one within the works

 

On-device processing with Visual Intelligence is barely used for summarising textual content (like on a banner or show), rapidly recognising and tagging objects (“this could be a carnation”) and within the Image Playground app for producing cartoon-like imagery however nothing past. Slightly advanced requests, together with content material formatting, are normally dealt with by ChatGPT.

Be it picture modifying or picture technology, Apple certain has an extended approach to go earlier than it could actually match as much as what the opposite two smartphone manufacturers are able to at present. And so, even when Apple Intelligence (AI) does come to India (scheduled for an April 2024 launch), I nonetheless do not see it as being remotely helpful or succesful.

In quick, it isn’t an element to base your buying selections on, and information of Apple delaying many AI options to the approaching 12 months as a substitute of delivering them this 12 months (as promised final 12 months) is an effective sufficient indicator that it’s not prepared but and shouldn’t be taken significantly.

As customisable because the Action Button is, these upgrading from the older iPhone fashions might not discover the brand new button as interesting as the enduring change

 

From a characteristic standpoint, in comparison with the common iPhone 16 and even the iPhone 15, Dynamic Island and its notifications are the one lacking options. The Action Button is the one trendy iPhone characteristic that makes it to the 16e. Users caught on the abovementioned telephones may even get entry to Car Crash Detection.

Apple iPhone 16e Performance: Punches above its weight

• Processor – Apple A18 (with 4 core GPU), 4.02GHz, 3nm
• RAM – 8GB
• Storage – 128/256/512GB

Performance is an space the place the Apple iPhone 16e does shine, each in opposition to Android rivals and older iPhones. However, the brand new chipset is not equivalent to the one within the newest iPhone 16. The A18 is a binned chipset with one GPU core disabled, which means it will not carry out in addition to the Apple A18 SoC contained in the iPhone 16 Plus we reviewed final 12 months. I’ve additionally included benchmark outcomes from a equally priced Android competitor within the desk under for comparability.

 

 

When utilizing the iPhone 16e as my each day driver, I didn’t discover any slowdowns or any efficiency issues. Be it working apps or enjoying video games; the 60Hz show refresh fee made issues seem a bit sluggish regardless that the cellphone is performing simply advantageous beneath.

Regarding that new Apple C1 modem, I didn’t discover any real-world variations when utilizing the iPhone 16e out and about in Mumbai on Jio’s 5G community. Even at crowded conferences, I confronted no connectivity points. And so, I can conclude that Apple’s C1 modem does carry out as anticipated, which is spectacular given that is its first go at it.

The audio high quality is fairly good too. The loudspeakers ship wealthy audio high quality with good stability, making for an immersive expertise whereas streaming video or enjoying video games.

Apple iPhone 16e Cameras: A bit under the mark

• Primary digital camera – 48-megapixel, f/1.6 aperture, OIS, AF
• Selfie digital camera – 12-megapixel, f/1.9 aperture, AF

Compared to most smartphones at this worth level, Apple has given its iPhone 16e only one rear-facing digital camera. This digital camera can be accountable for digital zoom duties, because the viewfinder additionally exhibits a default 2X magnification stage aside from the usual 1X. Since a few of Apple’s digital camera options depend on a couple of rear digital camera, one can find a couple of normal options lacking when you personal or have owned a latest iPhone mannequin with two rear cameras.

The digital camera app lacks Cinematic Video, which lets one add a shallow depth-of-field impact to movies. While this wasn’t a deal breaker for me, the shortage of a correct Portrait mode is. You see, the iPhone 16e’s single digital camera system immediately jogged my memory of the iPhone XR (from 2018), as its Portrait mode solely works on human topics and nothing else. Indeed, I used to be anticipating some AI (Apple Intelligence) magic to assist out right here. But clearly this is not the case.

Need an ultra-wide digital camera? You must take a number of steps again

 

Another element to bear in mind is that Apple has not used the first digital camera from the brand new iPhone 16, the iPhone 15, or the iPhone 14 earlier than it. This main digital camera even lacks Apple’s sensor-shift tech and goes with a extra fundamental lens-based OIS system as a substitute.

Apple iPhone 16e main digital camera samples (faucet photographs to broaden)

 

Photos from the first digital camera pack a shocking quantity of element when capturing photographs in daylight, however I did discover some barely dithered textures upon zooming into these high-resolution photographs (24 megapixels by default), which I discovered a bit bizarre.

The seize body of the 1X main digital camera additionally feels a bit constrained and never huge sufficient. Apple ought to have gone with a wider lens, provided that this cellphone has no devoted ultra-wide digital camera both.

Apple iPhone 16e low-light digital camera samples (faucet photographs to broaden)

 

For some cause, the low-light pictures aren’t the most effective I’ve seen at this worth level. The digital camera typically struggles to seize low-light photographs regardless of the brilliant f/1.6 aperture and OIS, taking twice as lengthy to snap a photograph in barely dimmer lighting circumstances. This ends in flatter textures, which is sort of the distinction to the daylight pictures. The iPhone 16e additionally tends to overdo HDR in low gentle, leading to an over-processed look, which solely provides to its texture downside.

Apple iPhone 16e 2X (digital zoom) digital camera samples (faucet photographs to broaden)

 

The 2X magnification is only a digital crop of the first digital camera. These pictures seem a bit comfortable and naturally pack in much less element. They are usable supplied you do not pixel peep, nevertheless it’s nowhere close to pretty much as good as a smartphone with a devoted 2X or 3X zoom digital camera. In low gentle, the 2X zoom captures present flat textures, seem comfortable and do not pack a lot element total.

Apple iPhone 16e main Portrait mode digital camera samples (faucet to broaden photographs)

 

Portrait pictures utilizing the first digital camera come out nicely in completely lit capturing situations. Introduce some backlight, and the sting detection goes for a toss, or your entire picture seems comfortable or flat. The similar goes for low-light capturing, the place the digital camera even fails to focus correctly on this mode.

Apple iPhone 16e low-light selfie digital camera pattern (faucet picture to broaden)

 

It’s enterprise as normal for the selfie digital camera. Decent pictures with correct pores and skin tones in daylight, however the system takes a U-turn in low gentle, with largely unusable photographs, as could be seen from the digital camera pattern above.

Video high quality is extra Android-like, within the sense that even at 4K 30 fps, it isn’t as easy as one would anticipate from a modern-day iPhone 15 or 16. Thankfully, the colors and dynamic vary are correct, however the total readability is missing. Low-light video high quality is blurry and fairly noisy, and it seems comfortable usually.

Apple iPhone 16e Battery: Impressive

• Battery capability – 4,005mAh
• Wired charging – Around 18-20W
• Wireless charging – 7.5W
• Charger in field – No

Apple’s advertising and marketing technique for the iPhone 16e closely emphasises battery life. Apple states that quite a lot of that is all the way down to using a bigger battery (as a result of there’s only one digital camera). Apple additionally states that its C1 modem is far more environment friendly than the one utilized in an iPhone 15. All of the above, mixed with the A18 processor and a normal 60Hz refresh-rate show, ought to ship some spectacular battery figures.

Everyone’s smartphone utilization differs and, so it is onerous to provide an estimate of battery life. However, there was a day after I coated a convention capturing about 70 1080p video clips (about 30-60 seconds lengthy) together with 5G uploads for 70 % of them, and my cellphone had drained to 50 % by midday, which is superb. More so for a compact smartphone!

In our HD video loop check, which retains working a video file in a loop till the battery runs out, the iPhone 16e managed 21 hours and 50 minutes, which is not the greatest we’ve seen at this worth level. Even Google’s Pixel 9, with a (not so environment friendly) Tensor G4 inside, managed a barely higher 25 hours and 6 minutes. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Plus we examined managed a a lot better 27 hours and 20 minutes.

The greatest approach to cost an iPhone 16e

 

Apple has not launched any official figures, so I plugged it right into a 100W GaN charger (which additionally helps PD) to see what this compact cellphone is able to. The iPhone 16e delivered an spectacular 58 % cost in half-hour however then slowed down, managing 86 % in 60 minutes. The system accomplished the cost in 1 hour and 34 minutes, which continues to be quicker than the iPhone 16 Plus we examined earlier, however disappointingly gradual in comparison with most Android gadgets out there at this worth level.

Apple iPhone 16e Verdict

Reviewing the iPhone 16e certainly obtained me excited about what an iPhone expertise actually stands for at present.

• Do you want a ProMovement show?
• Do you want the most recent processor?
• Do you want quick wi-fi charging?
• Do you want a succesful set of cameras?
• And do you want MagSafe and all of its equipment?

Indeed, your private necessities will see you selecting or ignoring the iPhone 16e. In my case, I may tolerate the 60Hz show, the slower charging and all the things else, however the digital camera was certainly the deal breaker for me, particularly contemplating this cellphone’s price ticket.

The elephant within the room is iPhone 15 (Review). It sells at across the similar worth as iPhone 16e throughout festive gross sales and, so it makes little sense to select up an iPhone 16e except you prioritise battery life and nothing else.

And that leaves the iPhone 16e for the “I just need an iPhone crowd”. Those who aren’t bothered by AI are advantageous with first rate digital camera high quality. These are customers who aren’t conscious, have not skilled and do not care about MagSafe and Dynamic Island.

Those who’re nonetheless utilizing an iPhone SE (2020/2022), the iPhone 7 sequence or an iPhone 8 sequence and are on a decent price range, may also comfortably improve to the 16e. They can be more than pleased to embrace options like USB-C charging, 5G connectivity and Car Crash Detection. They may even expertise higher battery life and barely higher cameras versus what they’ve been utilizing on their older gadgets.

Everyone else, together with Android customers switching over to iOS for the primary time, can simply attain out for an iPhone 15 or a 15 Plus.