iPhone 16E review: Eh, it’s alright

The iPhone 16E is all the pieces I like and hate about iOS. FaceTime at your fingertips. A dependable digital camera. Simplicity. Familiarity. They’re the pillars of the iPhone expertise, and Apple’s latest telephone has ‘em.

My husband picked up the 16E, involved that he must “be taught one thing new” to make use of it. He swiped round for a second and mentioned, “Oh. It’s identical to my telephone.” It is identical to his telephone — a six-year-old iPhone XR — solely up to date with just a few important enhancements (a quicker processor, nicer display, and a contemporary digital camera, that form of factor) and little else.

That’s the opposite pillar of the iPhone expertise: You get precisely what Apple provides you and nothing extra. On Android, you should purchase a $500 telephone with a quick refresh-rate display, two rear cameras, seven years of software program assist, and wi-fi charging. On iOS, you should purchase this $599 telephone with one rear digital camera, a regular 60Hz display, wi-fi charging (however no MagSafe), and an ample however unspoken quantity of software program assist. Apple has no competitors relating to telephones operating iOS. The corporate can gatekeep these conveniences behind a better price ticket, and that’s merely the way in which issues can be. I’m taking a look at you, ProMotion.

That is the world the iPhone 16E enters. It’s Apple’s most cost-effective telephone, however it’s not low cost — most likely for the aforementioned “lack of competitors” causes. It’s an iPhone that does iPhone issues, however it’s most likely lacking at the least one main function for any given purchaser, whether or not that’s an additional digital camera or the comfort of a MagSafe ring. For those who’re clinging desperately to an older mannequin and need a new iPhone for the least attainable cash, the 16E is the one to get.

That’s the job of the 16E: be the trail of least resistance to blue bubbles. However for a extra discerning buyer the reply’s not as clear-cut.

The iPhone 16E is the non secular successor to the iPhone SE, although Apple would fairly you not consider it that method. The SE was the corporate’s budget-friendly line, a form of close-out discount bin supply on final technology’s chassis with upgraded internals. The design was wildly outdated by the top, however, hey, it solely price $429. That line seems to have ended with the 16E, which is absolutely a member of the iPhone 16 sequence.

However as an alternative of an older design that’s a extremely whole lot, we’ve a contemporary design that’s solely form of a deal. It’s $200 cheaper than the $799 iPhone 16 and has the same 6.1-inch OLED display. There’s no Dynamic Island — only a notch. And as an alternative of two rear lenses, you get only one: a 48-megapixel essential digital camera and no ultrawide to go along with it. You get wired charging, however no MagSafe. The Motion Button, however no Digicam Management. This, not that. And so forth.

There’s a form of equation that may assist decide how a lot you must care about this record of lacking options. How previous is your present telephone? Do different individuals in your family use MagSafe equipment that you just wish to share? Do you even know what MagSafe is? Would you prefer to observe sports activities scores on the high of your display whilst you do different issues in your telephone, or are you a Seattle Mariners fan? (Love hurts, guys.) I don’t know what that actual system is as a result of I barely scraped by in calculus, however simply bear it in thoughts as you learn the remainder of this assessment.

The 16E’s display could be very seemingly a model of the iPhone 14’s display, full with a notch housing the Face ID and front-facing digital camera array. The common 16’s display will get just a bit brighter in concept, however in apply they appear about the identical to me, brightness-wise. The 16E’s display doesn’t go down to at least one nit just like the 16’s can, which is just too dangerous as a result of it’s truthfully cool as hell and helpful if you’re attempting to not get up your partner with a vivid telephone display. The notch’s existence additionally means no Dynamic Island — that’s the pill-shaped cutout Apple launched with the iPhone 14 Professional, which homes tiny bits of well timed data you may wish to see at a look.

All that time-sensitive info, like dwell sports activities scores and the proximity of your incoming Uber, continues to be offered on the 16E’s lock display. However the Dynamic Island retains it on the high of your display whilst you do different issues in your telephone. It’s helpful, and having gotten used to it, I missed it on the 16E. The additional visible affirmation is sweet when you might have a timer or display recording in progress. The Dynamic Island most likely gained’t be a fantastic loss for those who’re used to a telephone with out it, although.

MagSafe may be one other case of “for those who’ve by no means had it then you definitely gained’t miss it,” however I’m rather less inclined to shrug off its absence on the 16E. Certain, there’s nonetheless Qi wi-fi charging. And you may at all times use a case with magnets as a workaround if you wish to use MagSafe equipment, even when it’s not a sublime resolution. However the great thing about MagSafe is the simplicity, and for those who’re a case-hater like me then it’s a helpful method so as to add a Pop Socket or a low-profile pockets to your telephone with out committing to a case. Other than the SE, each iPhone from the 12-series onward has MagSafe. It looks like a regular function now, and it’s exhausting to grasp why Apple left it out.

The iPhone 16E’s rear digital camera makes use of a 48-megapixel sensor that mixes pixels to assist it higher collect mild, and it delivers good photos in most conditions. There’s no ultrawide digital camera and due to this fact no macro pictures both. I missed the ultrawide greater than as soon as when stepping backward to border a large shot wasn’t attainable. There’s a good portrait mode, although it’s the older model the place you may’t change the main target level after the actual fact. Photographic Kinds can be found to assist dial in colour copy, although they’re additionally the previous-gen model and you’ll’t tweak undertones.

It is a digital camera system most individuals can be completely proud of. For those who’re in the slightest degree inclined photographically and wish extra flexibility — each in focal vary and processing choices — then contemplate an iPhone 16 or 16 Professional. Nevertheless it’s digital camera for a basic viewers. There’s wonderful 4K video recording, optical picture stabilization, and dependable colour copy. A extra superior telephone digital camera would supply higher possibilities of capturing transferring topics in dim mild, however this one retains up in most conditions.

A lot of the 16E is acquainted, however there may be one totally new element: Apple’s C1 modem. That is its debut look, and the street to Apple’s first in-house modem was reportedly stuffed with setbacks and delays. I’ve used it for the previous week to make FaceTime calls, add giant video information in crowded locations, and stream YouTube on the bus. I examined it alongside an everyday iPhone 16 outfitted with a Qualcomm-made modem — each on Verizon — and I didn’t see any constant distinction in efficiency between the 2.

Each time I believed the iPhone 16 was faring higher with video name high quality or add speeds, I’d attempt the identical check once more and the 16E would come out forward. If I have been none the wiser, I wouldn’t have given the modem a second thought as I used the telephone. Given the issue Apple seemingly encountered constructing this factor and the complexity of a mobile modem, “it appears positive” is definitely a fantastic end result for the C1.

Apple claims switching to its personal modem has allowed it to squeeze slightly extra battery life out of the 16E, providing “the perfect battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone,” in keeping with its press launch. Battery life actually appears good. I spent a day out of the home utilizing lots of navigation, streaming a podcast, testing connectivity, and watching YouTube. I clocked about 5 hours of display time and was solely all the way down to 41 p.c by the top of the day. I’m assured that most individuals may get via a day comfortably on this battery, however that’s not my largest concern. I’m extra interested by long-term battery well being — Apple’s latest monitor report right here is spotty — and there’s simply no method of understanding that after per week of testing.

The opposite improve right here is Apple Intelligence. Possibly you’ve heard of it? Or seen it on a billboard? Or in a industrial just a few dozen occasions? Apple would really like us to think about its AI as a marquee function on the 16E, however Apple Intelligence simply doesn’t really feel like one — not but, anyway. Nevertheless it’s all right here: the AI writing instruments, Picture Playground, notification summaries, and the up to date Siri with a ChatGPT extension. It’s all fairly forgettable proper now.

Working example: it took me a number of days to note that Apple Intelligence wasn’t operating on the 16E I used to be testing, regardless of having the Apple Intelligence choice turned on. I sorted it out — I assume one thing about the way in which I set it up prevented the required AI fashions from downloading — however this says loads about how helpful Apple Intelligence is correct now. Probably the most attention-grabbing stuff is but to return, and the 16E can be prepared for it, which is sweet. However I positively wouldn’t let Apple Intelligence be a deciding consider selecting this telephone versus, say, an iPhone 15.

That highlights the place I’m caught attempting to determine the 16E. For those who’re coming from an older iPhone like an 11, don’t need to spend so much, and don’t care about MagSafe or an ultrawide digital camera, then the 16E form of is smart. However 100 {dollars} extra will get you a brand new iPhone 15 with MagSafe, the Dynamic Island, and an ultrawide digital camera, although there’s no Apple Intelligence or motion button.

The 16E feels prefer it ought to supply the necessities, however it’s exhausting to say what’s a vital iPhone function and what’s not. It’s most likely extra like a mixture of options, and for some individuals, the 16E seemingly presents a mixture they’ll be proud of. Particularly, I imply individuals like my husband and anybody else with an previous iPhone who’s tired of studying what MagSafe is, not often takes footage, and simply desires a dang iPhone. The 16E covers these necessities. For somebody who desires extra flexibility from their smartphone’s digital camera or its system of equipment, this isn’t the iPhone for you.

I’d fairly have a cool magnetic accent system and a neat quick-glance show function constructed into my telephone than Apple Intelligence, particularly for $600. It doesn’t fairly add up for me, however possibly the maths appears to be like slightly completely different for you.