iPhone 16e lacks Ultra Wideband tracking and Thread radio

To keep the cost down, Apple's new iPhone 16e isn't just missing MagSafe, it also lacks Ultra Wideband, and a Thread radio.

MagSafe wasn't the only omission from the iPhone 16e. Probably because of the new Apple-designed cellular modem, Ultra Wideband isn't included, nor is a thread radio.

Ultra Wideband (UWB) is a wireless protocol for communications, which functions using radio waves. At its most basic, it can be used to transmit messages between devices, making it somewhat analogous to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

As it has potential applications for personal area network communications, namely allowing devices on a person to communicate with each other, there is a lot of crossover with the more established Bluetooth. However, the way it operates means it can offer some more functionality the other two communications types cannot provide.

The main feature it enables is highly-accurate location tracking, with devices using UWB potentially able to identify the distance and even the location of other hardware relative to itself to within a few inches. This means it has potential uses for device tracking services, minus the iPhone 16e.

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It's also used for quick pairing with the HomePod mini.

Thread is gone too

Thread is a new IP-based smart home connectivity standard that has slowly been increasing in adoption in recent years. It's an alternative to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee and is incredibly low-power and fast.

It first debuted in the HomePod mini and a few Nanoleaf lights but there are now several smart home products that have utilized it.

Apple incorporated the radio into the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the whole iPhone 16 line that launched in September — but not in the iPhone 16e.

We'll be evaluating all the differences between the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16 line over the next few days.

5 Comments

jellybelly 16 Years · 148 comments

About 1 month ago

Could the radios be in the silicon but turned off?—waiting for a firmware update that’s being refined to get them working optimally?

Not having these two radios seems to be losing opportunities for accessory sales. That would include wearables plus rumored upcoming re-entry into home devices.

1 Like · 0 Dislikes

avon b7 21 Years · 8180 comments

About 1 month ago

I suppose it means no (or reduced) AirTag compatibility too. If that is the case it reinforces my opinion that this UWB/Thread omission is a strategic mistake.

While being the new lower cost iPhone offering, it remains expensive in non-US markets.

0 Likes · 1 Dislike

gatorguy 14 Years · 24693 comments

About 1 month ago

Also no mmWave in the 16e sold in the US, which may or may not be important to you. The other 16's do. Outside of the US, iPhones don't include mmWave antennas anyway AFAIK, no matter the model, so it wouldn't matter.

1 Like · 1 Dislike

jellybelly 16 Years · 148 comments

About 1 month ago

To Avon B7 and Gatorguy:
It’s nice to see you on the forum.

The lack of precision for AirTags is a loss of a handy function, but you at least will know the tag and what it’s attached to is in the house or within a general location. Since most phones in the masses only contribute to general location without precision you still get that functionality. But the precision of UWB is indeed a nice feature that’s missing. But perhaps to be expected as a differentiator from the other models.

As to mm wave, we hardly benefit from it anyway, so it’s less of a feature loss.

mmWave signals are easily blocked by walls, trees, and even people, and walls of buildings, so you don’t usually gets its benefit. Plus it has very limited distance, so out in the world there are few opportunities to communicate in mm wave. Some good locations might be stadium, airports, annd perhaps crowded downtown or mall areas—although as mentioned, even people’s bodies and cars are obstacles. So I see mm wave as the least missing feature.

Thread opportunities for upcoming Apple home accessories seem to be a more of a lost opportunity for Apple and for customer convenience. WiFi and Bluetooth will still offer functionality, albeit more limited in the future compared to Thread in ease of setup and compatibility. That can be a bigger deal to mix and match different brands of home products.

1 Like · 0 Dislikes

nugentjeep45 9 Years · 6 comments

About 3 weeks ago

Apple seemed to be targeting the iphone 11 and 12 owners with this 16E release. Imagine upgrading from your 2019 model iphone 11, you get everything transferred over to your new 16E, then you realize that you can’t detail track down your many AirTags that you have, including keys, wallet etc. that even your 5 year old 11 could! What a disappointment!

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