I have been utilizing the iPhone 16e as my on a regular basis cellphone because it launched three months in the past, and it stays a wonderful compromise between value and options.

Apple unveiled iPhone 16e in February 2025, shocking everybody who thought we might get an “iPhone SE 4.” It is Apple’s price-sensitive iPhone and other people definitely had emotions about it.

As a diehard professional person, I put my iPhone 16 Professional right into a drawer to place Apple’s finances cellphone to the take a look at. To be clear, I nonetheless had to make use of my iPhone 16 Professional at instances, although it was extra associated to my job than any shortcomings of the cellphone.

Like when reviewing MagSafe gadgets for instance. However we’ll get into that.

First, let’s revisit the high-level specs of the three-month-old iPhone 16e.

iPhone 16e long-term overview: Specs

Apple’s most inexpensive iPhone measures up with a 6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR show. It has an aluminum body and a matte glass again that is available in both black or white.

There is a notch on the high and it makes use of Face ID for authentication. Luckily ditching the Dwelling Button from the prior iPhone SE 3.

There is a single 48MP rear-facing digicam that provides 2X optical-quality zoom. It has the identical 12MP front-facing digicam as the remainder of the lineup.

Holding a white smartphone to the camera
iPhone 16e long-term overview: The iPhone 16e is available in black or white — no colours right here

There is no such thing as a Digital camera Management, that is reserved for the remainder of the iPhone 16 lineup. It does have the Motion Button although, which might be preset to many capabilities together with opening the Digital camera app or launching Visible Intelligence.

The cellphone runs on Apple’s A18 processor, which is sufficient to run Apple Intelligence. No less than the options which have been launched up to now.

Close-up view of a smartphone's internal components featuring a circuit board with a large central chip labeled with an Apple logo and 'C1'.
iPhone 16e long-term overview: Apple’s C1 chip debuted within the iPhone 16e

Then there may be the customized C1 modem. The C1 is only the start of Apple’s modem work, which I outlined already.

iPhone 16e long-term overview: Utilizing it in day by day life

In my day by day life, I am fairly typical. The standard household affairs, weekend journeys, and loads of photographs of my pets and child.

Hand holding a smartphone displaying a photo of a child in sunglasses. Blue water and wooden deck visible in the background. Yellow wristband on wrist.
iPhone 16e long-term overview: I have been utilizing the iPhone 16e day by day for a number of months now

I’ve lived with it all through the day, on a trip, and to baseball video games. Total, it simply felt like a really strong iPhone.

By no means did the cellphone really feel sluggish. I might do mainly the whole lot I might do on my iPhone 16 Professional with ease.

A white smartphone partially protrudes from a pocket on a blue backpack.
iPhone 16e long-term overview: I introduced the iPhone 16e on trip with out difficulty

I by no means performed any intensive video games, however the ones I performed most frequently — Balatro, Stardew Valley, or Recreation Dev Tycoon — all ran easy and lag-free.

Maybe loading instances have been mildly longer, however nothing I significantly seen or was involved about. I am certain extra GPU-intensive video games like Murderer’s Creed would battle a bit extra, identical to on the bottom iPhone 16.

Person capturing a distant church on a lake with a smartphone, surrounded by mountains, wearing a yellow wristband.
iPhone 16e long-term overview: The only digicam carried out nice

Images was additionally not problematic. I not often wanted to zoom in past 2X in the true world so having a 48MP main digicam was good.

Baseball stadium with players on the field, spectators in the stands, large digital screen displaying advertisements, and a cityscape with tall buildings in the background under a cloudy sky.
iPhone 16e long-term overview: I want this photograph was a bit wider to slot in the entire stadium

The one time I missed having the ultra-wide lens was once we went to the Cleveland Guardian’s recreation and I could not fairly match the entire ballpark in body. The photographs have been nonetheless crisp and vivid, although.

I additionally need to point out Apple Intelligence. The A18 chip does help Apple Intelligence and all of the options which can be at the moment out there.

This touches so many elements of the cellphone from fuzzy searches in Photographs and the App Store to summarized notifications. There’s additionally the Clear Up instrument, Writing Instruments, ChatGPT integration, Visible Intelligence, Precedence Notifications, and extra.

Whereas many of those are helpful, it is not the absolutely realized characteristic set for Apple Intelligence. Increasingly will likely be coming, beginning with iOS 19.

A hand holding a white smartphone with a single camera lens, sitting outdoors.
iPhone 16e long-term overview: I did not miss many options on the iPhone 16e after ditching my iPhone 16 Professional

Even when the Apple Intelligence options now are considerably lackluster, the hope is that they enhance and can, ultimately, be a core characteristic of the cellphone.

What’s so nice concerning the iPhone 16e is that it’s so a lot of the core iPhone expertise. The display is larger than the SE, it is acquired Apple’s newest processor, it helps Apple Intelligence, and lots of future variations of iOS, and the digicam is superb for a singular shooter.

iPhone 16e long-term overview: Two lacking options

After utilizing an iPhone 16 Professional for thus lengthy, there have been two very particular options that I ended up lacking fairly a bit on the iPhone 16e. They have been MagSafe and the Digital camera Management.

Person using a smartphone camera to capture an image, focusing on a scene of a red brick wall and a white object.
iPhone 16e long-term overview: The Digital camera Management was surprisingly missed

The Digital camera Management is one other new button Apple added that had individuals divided. Remark sections throughout the varied AppleInsider platforms have been sturdy and diverse.

They spanned the gamut from loving it to hating it. My authentic opinion was someplace within the center, nevertheless it turned out to be surprisingly helpful for opening the Digital camera app.

It is by far the quickest option to open the Digital camera and rapidly grew to become a behavior for me. I can pull the cellphone from my pocket, give it a squeeze whereas elevating it, and have the Digital camera open by the point it’s at eye stage.

Someone pressing the side of a silver smartphone
iPhone 16e long-term overview: The Motion Button can open the Digital camera app, however I appreciated utilizing it for different options

Sure, the Motion Button can do the identical however I additionally had most popular makes use of for that too. The Digital camera Management might be fiddly when making an attempt to alter settings and swiping throughout it, nevertheless it’s so good for opening the app.

There was an exceedingly excessive variety of instances I had pulled my cellphone out, solely to understand the Digital camera Management was not there any longer, and felt hampered by that.

The second characteristic was MagSafe. I’ve turn out to be an enormous fan of MagSafe and never having it in my cellphone was almost a dealbreaker.

White smartphone charging with a black braided cable on a wooden surface, next to a coiled cable and a small black object.
iPhone 16e long-term overview: Plugging within the iPhone 16e might be the simplest option to cost

All my chargers within the dwelling were MagSafe stands, which meant this cellphone would not work. I had to make use of a USB-C cable or put the chargers flat when potential.

I additionally use a MagSafe automobile charger, a MagSafe pockets, and a MagSafe battery. All incompatible right here.

Apple’s philosophy appears to be that the goal customers of iPhone 16e do not use MagSafe and as a substitute plug their telephones in and neglect them. I am certain that’s considerably true, however I feel this was one reduce too deep.

Two smartphones on a wooden table next to a round smartwatch charger. The left phone displays widgets, while the right shows a colorful lock screen with the time 4:43.
iPhone 16e long-term overview: My iPhone 16 Professional charging with MagSafe (left) and the iPhone 16e charging with Qi

It is true which you can adorn the iPhone 16e with a case that adds MagSafe magnets, however that’s solely a part of the MagSafe expertise and remains to be restricted to 7.5W max versus 25W.

I do understand the place I am in right here, coming from an iPhone 16 Professional. That is not an improve path customers comply with.

In case you are upgrading to an iPhone 16e from an iPhone 11 or from an Android gadget, you are not going to overlook these options. Since you by no means had them within the first place.

Maybe that is the true angle Apple is relying on.

iPhone 16e long-term overview: Apple’s finances iPhone tightrope

The crux of this cellphone is that it retains nearly the entire core iPhone expertise. You’re getting a really strong digicam, a contemporary design, a decent-sized display, the newest processor, USB-C, and extra for a way more inexpensive value.

Holding up an iPhone against a purple and blue wall showing the screen full of icons
iPhone 16e long-term overview: I type of missed the Dynamic Island too in comparison with the notch, however at the very least it had Face ID

Some had posited that they’d somewhat simply get an older iPhone as a substitute, like an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 as a result of they at the very least have MagSafe.

The issue with that’s they might have a technology or two previous chips, which limits their general lifespan. In addition they haven’t got Apple Intelligence, which, whereas maybe lackluster at this time, will doubtless turn out to be more and more necessary over the approaching years.

In my view, the one affordable different can be an iPhone 15 Professional. You get the professional chip — which ought to assist it work longer, you get Apple Intelligence, MagSafe, a number of cameras, and different advantages.

That cellphone although, remains to be recurrently bought for $700 or extra. A used one is plausible, however then it’s a must to fear about battery well being and never everybody desires a used cellphone.

Person taking a photo of a distant church on a lake with a smartphone, wearing a hat and yellow wristbands, water and mountains in the background.
iPhone 16e long-term overview: The finances cellphone retains a lot of the core iPhone expertise

This cellphone is predominantly for these customers who’re strolling into an Apple Retailer, Verizon, Greatest Purchase, or another retail outlet and asking what’s the latest and most inexpensive iPhone they will get that can final them for years to return. They do not want all of the bells and whistles however desire a cellphone that can final for years at the perfect value.

I feel iPhone 16e delivers that in spades. Even when it is not for everybody.

iPhone 16e long-term overview: Execs

  • Stable value retaining core iPhone expertise

  • Clear and easy design

  • Digital camera nonetheless nice

  • A18 chip is loads of future-proofed efficiency

  • Will help Apple Intelligence options as they’re launched

  • Motion Button might be programmed to many duties, like Visible Intelligence

iPhone 16e long-term overview: Cons

  • Many will nonetheless miss MagSafe

  • Not as cheap because the iPhone SE was

iPhone 16e long-term overview score: 4 out of 5

The place to purchase Apple’s iPhone 16e at a reduction

One of the simplest ways to save on Apple’s iPhone 16e is to take a look at wi-fi service offers, with the service suppliers providing incentives by way of invoice credit and trade-in promotions that usually convey the gadget right down to free (relevant taxes do nonetheless apply).

You’ll be able to hop straight to the service gives under. We additionally cowl the best iPhone deals in our devoted roundup.

Save on iPhones at wi-fi carriers

  • T-Cellular: Get an iPhone 16e from $0 per month* for twenty-four months

  • AT&T Wi-fi: Seize an iPhone 16e for as little as $5.99 per month* with no trade-in required

  • Verizon: iPhone 16e starts at $4.99 per month* (save $420 with incentives)


    • *Phrases and circumstances pertaining to every provide might be discovered on the particular service’s web site.


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