Wesley Hilliard
Initial reviews and impressions for the iPhone 16e are here, and they're middling at best as everyone misses MagSafe.
Apple discontinued the iPhone SE and introduced a whole new device at a higher price called the iPhone 16e. It has a series of compromises to make the price $200 lower than the base iPhone 16.
Reviews are out at a very odd 9 p.m. EST on a Wednesday, and there's a lot to say about this odd iPhone. While no one outright hates the iPhone 16e, it's a tough sell when used and refurbished models might offer a better deal.
Engadget: What's your acceptable compromise?
Cherlynn Low at Engadget reviewed Apple's latest entry model and says Apple's omissions are like stepping back in time. It's called an iPhone 16 but it's compromised enough to be noticeable in daily use.
The lack of MagSafe stings and the increased price isn't ideal, especially if you don't care about Apple Intelligence. A used iPhone model may be a better option.
The long battery life, display, and performance are all notably good. The single camera isn't.
Apple's custom C1 modem consistently outperformed speed tests run against an iPhone 16 Pro, but that could be a result of network differences. Overall, the modem didn't provide any issues.
If you don't care about MagSafe, taking the best photos, or would prefer not looking to Android for more savings, Low says the iPhone 16e is a good handset.
MKBHD: Who are you?
Marques Brownlee asks simply who the iPhone 16e is for. A playful skit at the start of his review shows a customer asking for Apple Intelligence, no MagSafe, a notch, and an Action button in an iPhone.
The lack of MagSafe is, again, a big sticking point. Third-party cases can bring back the magnets, but Qi charging just isn't comparable to the faster MagSafe speeds.
The camera takes okay photos with an older-generation sensor and features. It just doesn't have the same camera performance as modern iPhones.
Brownlee speculates that the entire purpose of the iPhone 16e is to have an iPhone at the bottom of the price ladder and entice customers to choose the base model. Otherwise, the price just doesn't make sense.
"Every single person considering the 16e should start by considering the 15 Pro," he said. "It's just, everything about it is better."
The Verge: eh, it's alright
Allison Johnson writing for The Verge says the iPhone 16e is everything she loves and hates about iOS. It's an iPhone through and through, but Android is offering better features at a lower price.
Customers that don't look for all the specs won't care and will buy this entry model, but more fussy ones will have a conundrum. Either it's MagSafe that will make you consider a more expensive iPhone, or the camera.
iPhone 16e offers several modern features, but cuts out a few essentials. Image source: AppleiPhone 15 is only $100 more and has MagSafe, the Dynamic Island, and an ultrawide camera, but it lacks Apple Intelligence. It's a tough call and depends on the individual's needs.
The long battery life is useful and will likely get most people through a day of use. Battery health is a different question that can't be answered until these devices are used for much longer periods.
The C1 performed without issue, and Johnson says not noticing any differences is a good thing. Watching videos, making FaceTime calls, and uploading media didn't pose any problems.
People coming from an iPhone 11 might see the iPhone 16e as a good option. However, those invested in MagSafe would likely prefer that over Apple Intelligence.
Wall Street Journal: Apple's 'cheap' iPhone isn't so cheap. But is it a bad deal?
Nicole Nguyen writing for The Wall Street Journal says iPhone 16e is a decent choice for anyone that wants the basics. However, older models at a discount may be more enticing.
The battery life increase to 26 hours of video playback is an impressive feature. She notes that she would go to bed with 60% or more left on the battery each day.
Again, MagSafe is sorely missed. No access to magnetic wallets, stands, and chargers hurts, especially for those with a collection.
Nguyen says the "e" in iPhone 16e stands for "envy," which she felt any time she looked at a MagSafe-compatible iPhone while testing the device. Customers should consider the year-old iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro, which will still get years of updates from Apple.
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William Gallagher
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26 Comments
Saying there is no market for an XR-class phone offered at XR-discount is odd. XR sold very well. 16e adds OLED, AI, and nice materials to the winning concept of XR at the same 25% discount.
Maybe it is just me… but I have a totally different explanation for the 16e.
Apple was… ‘forced’… to do it by Apple Intelligence.
Previous SE models were all made up of… old chips…
But now, the need the newest one… to run Apple Intelligence.
So… they put the needed CPU and RAM/storage… and build everything around,
And they got a wonderful opportunity to test the C1!
What's the catch? That maybe this model will live two years… and when the chip is… ‘old’… they could bring back the SE 4… well, a more budget-friendly model.
Or… maybe… they sell zillions of 16e… and the ‘e model’ stays as a full member of the iPhone family.
At the end of the day… it is the cheapest to run Apple Intelligence. If Apple Intelligen wins… 16e will also win.
Time… the time Apple Intelligence takes to show its full potential will be the defining partner for the success of the 16e!
Apple's selling proposition for the 16e seems pretty clear: you can now buy a version of the world's best selling smartphone (the regular iPhone 16) for 25% less money. The pro side of the equation is also pretty clear: you save $200. On the con side are the various compromises that have been made to achieve that price point. Generally speaking, tech press pronouncements about Apple products have a long history of being wrong as a predictor of how they will ultimately fare with the general public. It's not that tech reviewers are wrong, per se, it's that the priorities of the tech press and commenters on tech sites are often very different from those of mass market buyers.
Apple's website is specifically pitching the 16e to current owners of the IPhone 11, 12, 12 Mini and SE 2 and 3 phones. Overall, it's a nice upgrade if you're coming from one of those phones. Not considered (and unknown) at this time is the effect if Amazon and other big retailers start discounting the 16e to $499 which would not be surprising. This would tilt the value proposition much more heavily in the 16e's favor. When Apple reports earnings in July for the quarter that ends on June 30, that will mark the first full quarter of 16e sales concluding with the busy graduation season and we should get a much better idea at that time from Apple of how the 16e is faring.