iPhone 16E evaluation: Eh, it’s alright

The iPhone 16E is all the pieces I really 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 cellphone 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 similar to my cellphone.” It is similar to his cellphone — a six-year-old iPhone XR — solely up to date with a number of important enhancements (a sooner processor, nicer display screen, and a contemporary digicam, that sort 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 cellphone with a quick refresh-rate display screen, two rear cameras, seven years of software program assist, and wi-fi charging. On iOS, you should purchase this $599 cellphone with one rear digicam, a regular 60Hz display screen, wi-fi charging (however no MagSafe), and an ample however unspoken quantity of software program assist. Apple has no competitors in terms of telephones working iOS. The corporate can gatekeep these conveniences behind the next price ticket, and that’s merely the best way issues will likely be. I’m taking a look at you, ProMotion.

That is the world the iPhone 16E enters. It’s Apple’s least expensive cellphone, but it surely’s not low cost — in all probability for the aforementioned “lack of competitors” causes. It’s an iPhone that does iPhone issues, but it surely’s in all probability lacking at the least 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 doable 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 quite you not consider it that means. The SE was the corporate’s budget-friendly line, a sort of close-out discount bin provide on final technology’s chassis with upgraded internals. The design was wildly outdated by the tip, however, hey, it solely value $429.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 very whole lot, we now have a contemporary design that’s solely sort of a deal. It’s $200 cheaper than the $799 iPhone 16 and has an identical 6.1-inch OLED display screen. There’s no Dynamic Island — only a notch. And as an alternative of two rear lenses, you get only one: a 48-megapixel important digicam 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 sort of equation that may assist decide how a lot it is best to care about this listing of lacking options. How outdated is your present cellphone? Do different folks in your family use MagSafe equipment that you just wish to share? Do you even know what MagSafe is? Would you wish to observe sports activities scores on the prime of your display screen whilst you do different issues in your cellphone, 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 evaluation.

The 16E’s display screen may be very probably a model of the iPhone 14’s display screen, full with a notch housing the Face ID and front-facing digicam array. The common 16’s display screen will get just a bit brighter in idea, however in follow they give the impression of being about the identical to me, brightness-wise. The 16E’s display screen doesn’t go down to 1 nit just like the 16’s can, which is simply too unhealthy as a result of it’s truthfully cool as hell and helpful while you’re attempting to not get up your partner with a brilliant cellphone display screen. 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 info, like reside sports activities scores and the proximity of your incoming Uber, remains to be offered on the 16E’s lock display screen. However the Dynamic Island retains it on the prime of your display screen whilst you do different issues in your cellphone. It’s helpful, and having gotten used to it, I missed it on the 16E. The additional visible affirmation is good when you could have a timer or display screen recording in progress. The Dynamic Island in all probability gained’t be an important loss should you’re used to a cellphone with out it, although.

MagSafe is likely to be one other case of “should you’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. Positive, there’s nonetheless Qi wi-fi charging. And you’ll at all times use a case with magnets as a workaround if you wish to use MagSafe equipment, even when it’s not a chic answer. However the great thing about MagSafe is the simplicity, and should you’re a case-hater like me then it’s a helpful means so as to add a Pop Socket or a low-profile pockets to your cellphone with out committing to a case. Apart from the SE, each iPhone from the 12-series onward has MagSafe. It appears like a regular characteristic now, and it’s laborious 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 photographs in most conditions. There’s no ultrawide digicam and subsequently no macro images both. I missed the ultrawide greater than as soon as when stepping backward to border a large shot wasn’t doable. There’s a good portrait mode, although it’s the older model the place you possibly can’t change the main target 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.

It is a digicam system most individuals will likely be completely pleased with. In case you’re in the slightest degree inclined photographically and need extra flexibility — each in focal vary and processing choices — then take into account an iPhone 16 or 16 Professional. However it’s a very good digicam for a basic viewers. There’s glorious 4K video recording, optical picture stabilization, and dependable shade replica. A extra superior cellphone 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’s one solely new part: Apple’s C1 modem. That is its debut look, and the highway 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 recordsdata in crowded locations, and stream YouTube on the bus. I examined it alongside a daily iPhone 16 geared up 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 cellphone. Given the issue Apple seemingly encountered constructing this factor and the complexity of a mobile modem, “it appears superb” is definitely an important final result for the C1.

Apple claims switching to its personal modem has allowed it to squeeze a little bit extra battery life out of the 16E, providing “the very best battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone,” according to its press release. Battery life definitely 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 screen time and was solely right down to 41 % by the tip of the day. I’m assured that most individuals may get by means of a day comfortably on this battery, however that’s not my largest concern. I’m extra interested in long-term battery well being — Apple’s latest observe report right here is spotty — and there’s simply no means of figuring out 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 a number of dozen occasions? Apple would really like us to think about 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 true now. Probably the most attention-grabbing stuff is but to return, and the 16E will likely be prepared for it, which is good. However I undoubtedly wouldn’t let Apple Intelligence be a deciding think about selecting this cellphone 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 sort 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 laborious to say what’s an important iPhone characteristic and what’s not. It’s in all probability extra like a mix of options, and for some folks, the 16E probably provides a mix they’ll be pleased with. Particularly, I imply folks like my husband and anybody else with an outdated iPhone who’s bored with studying what MagSafe is, not often takes photos, and simply desires a dang iPhone. The 16E covers these necessities. For somebody who desires extra flexibility from their smartphone’s digicam or its system of equipment, this isn’t the iPhone for you.

I’d quite have a cool magnetic accent system and a neat quick-glance show characteristic constructed into my cellphone than Apple Intelligence, particularly for $600. It doesn’t fairly add up for me, however possibly the maths seems to be a little bit totally different for you.