iPhone 16E review: Eh, it’s alright

The iPhone 16E is every thing I like and hate about iOS. FaceTime at your fingertips. A dependable digicam. 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 digicam, that type of factor) and little else.

That’s the opposite pillar of the iPhone expertise: You get precisely what Apple offers you and nothing extra. On Android, you should buy a $500 telephone with a quick refresh-rate display, two rear cameras, seven years of software program help, and wi-fi charging. On iOS, you should buy this $599 telephone with one rear digicam, an ordinary 60Hz display, wi-fi charging (however no MagSafe), and an ample however unspoken quantity of software program help. Apple has no competitors in relation to telephones working iOS. The corporate can gatekeep these conveniences behind the next price ticket, and that’s merely the best way issues shall be. I’m you, ProMotion.

That is the world the iPhone 16E enters. It’s Apple’s least expensive telephone, but it surely’s not low cost — most likely for the aforementioned “lack of competitors” causes. It’s an iPhone that does iPhone issues, but it surely’s most likely lacking not less than one main characteristic for any given purchaser, whether or not that’s an additional digicam or the comfort of a MagSafe ring. In case you’re clinging desperately to an older mannequin and desire 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 religious successor to the iPhone SE, although Apple would slightly you not consider it that approach. The SE was the corporate’s budget-friendly line, a type of close-out cut price bin provide on final era’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 The design was wildly outdated by the top, however, hey, it solely price $429.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 collection.

However as an alternative of an older design that’s a extremely whole lot, we now have a contemporary design that’s solely type 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 principal digicam and no ultrawide to go together with it. You get wired charging, however no MagSafe. The Motion Button, however no Digital camera Management. This, not that. And so forth.

There’s a type of equation that may assist decide how a lot it’s best to care about this record of lacking options. How outdated is your present telephone? Do different folks in your family use MagSafe equipment that you just wish to share? Do you even know what MagSafe is? Would you prefer to comply with sports activities scores on the prime 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 precise components 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 digicam array. The common 16’s display will get just a bit brighter in concept, however in observe 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 actually cool as hell and helpful whenever you’re attempting to not get up your partner with a vibrant 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 information you may wish to see at a look.

All that time-sensitive data, like stay sports activities scores and the proximity of your incoming Uber, remains to be offered on the 16E’s lock display. However the Dynamic Island retains it on the prime 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’ve got a timer or display recording in progress. The Dynamic Island most likely gained’t be a fantastic loss if you happen to’re used to a telephone with out it, although.

MagSafe may be one other case of “if you happen to’ve by no means had it you then gained’t miss it,” however I’m rather less inclined to shrug off its absence on the 16E. Positive, there’s nonetheless Qi wi-fi charging. And you may all the time use a case with magnets as a workaround if you wish to use MagSafe equipment, even when it’s not a sublime answer. However the great thing about MagSafe is the simplicity, and if you happen to’re a case-hater like me then it’s a helpful approach so as to add a Pop Socket or a low-profile pockets to your telephone with out committing to a case. Apart from the SE, each iPhone from the 12-series onward has MagSafe. It appears like an ordinary characteristic now, and it’s exhausting to know why Apple left it out.

The iPhone 16E’s rear digicam makes use of a 48-megapixel sensor that mixes pixels to assist it higher collect mild, and it delivers good pictures in most conditions. There’s no ultrawide digicam and subsequently 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 possibly can’t change the main focus level after the very fact. Photographic Types can be found to assist dial in shade replica, although they’re additionally the previous-gen model and you’ll’t tweak undertones.

This can be a digicam system most individuals shall be completely pleased with. In case you’re in the least inclined photographically and wish extra flexibility — each in focal vary and processing choices — then contemplate an iPhone 16 or 16 Professional. However it’s an excellent digicam for a common viewers. There’s wonderful 4K video recording, optical picture stabilization, and dependable shade replica. A extra superior telephone digicam would provide 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 fully 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 massive video information in crowded locations, and stream YouTube on the bus. I examined it alongside a daily 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 assumed 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 problem Apple seemingly encountered constructing this factor and the complexity of a mobile modem, “it appears tremendous” is definitely a fantastic end result for the C1.

Apple claims switching to its personal modem has allowed it to squeeze somewhat extra battery life out of the 16E, providing “the perfect battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone,” in line with its press launch. Battery life definitely appears good. I spent a day out of the home utilizing a number of navigation, streaming a podcast, testing connectivity, and watching YouTube. I clocked about 5 hours of display time and was solely right down to 41 % by the top of the day. I’m assured that most individuals might get by means of a day comfortably on this battery, however that’s not my largest concern. I’m extra inquisitive about long-term battery well being — Apple’s current observe report right here is spotty — and there’s simply no approach of understanding that after per week of testing.

The opposite improve right here is Apple Intelligence. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? Or seen it on a billboard? Or in a business just a few dozen occasions? Apple would really like us to consider its AI as a marquee characteristic on the 16E, however Apple Intelligence simply doesn’t really feel like one — not but, anyway. However 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 working on the 16E I used to be testing, regardless of having the Apple Intelligence possibility turned on. I sorted it out — I suppose one thing about the best way I set it up prevented the mandatory AI fashions from downloading — however this says quite a bit about how helpful Apple Intelligence is correct now. Probably the most attention-grabbing stuff is but to return, and the 16E shall be prepared for it, which is sweet. However I undoubtedly 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. In case you’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 digicam, then the 16E type of is sensible. However 100 {dollars} extra will get you a brand new iPhone 15 with MagSafe, the Dynamic Island, and an ultrawide digicam, although there’s no Apple Intelligence or motion button.

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

I’d slightly have a cool magnetic accent system and a neat quick-glance show characteristic constructed into my telephone than Apple Intelligence, particularly for $600. It doesn’t fairly add up for me, however perhaps the mathematics seems somewhat totally different for you.