- Apple’s new iPhone – the 16e – is the newest member of the iPhone 16 household
- Even with comparable appears, there are some lacking options
- A single digicam stands proud essentially the most, however it additionally lacks ultra-wideband, mmWave, and a GPU core
Whereas the iPhone 16e is the newest member of the iPhone 16 household, Apple needed to rebalance the function listing and {hardware} inside to cut back the value to $599 / £599 / AU$999. In spite of everything, that’s $200 lower than the iPhone 16’s beginning value in america, so some performance merely needed to go.
That’s to not say it isn’t feature-filled, although. The iPhone 16e nonetheless will get an A18 processor for swift efficiency and the flexibility to run Apple Intelligence. It additionally pairs with a 6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR show, a single digicam on the rear, Face ID, and a design that makes it appropriate with the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Professional, and 16 Professional Max.
So what’s lacking? Nicely, apart from shedding some connectivity, it’s additionally a story of cameras and the way you cost the iPhone 16e – let’s dive into it.
One much less GPU core than the iPhone 16
Contemplating it’s extra inexpensive than the iPhone 16, this small tweak with the Apple-made A18 processor isn’t stunning. The iPhone 16e nonetheless comes with the A18 chip, however as an alternative of a 5-core GPU just like the iPhone 16, it solely will get 4-cores. It nonetheless contains a 5-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine, so it’s doubtless this barely much less highly effective graphical processing unit gained’t make a lot of a distinction in day-to-day utilization.
Apple doubtless created this barely much less highly effective A18 chip to maintain it inside the household. Alternatively, it might have used the A17 Professional chip, which has a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine, because it did with the iPad mini.
Even so, count on the iPhone 16e to behave and carry out like an iPhone 16 – that means that iOS 18 and varied apps ought to run with out a hitch.
Final-gen Photographic Kinds and one lens
The very first thing in regards to the digicam is pretty apparent – the iPhone 16e merely has one lens, similar to the iPhone SE that got here earlier than it. With out the ultrawide you’ll be a bit extra restricted within the forms of images you’ll be able to seize, and it guidelines out the flexibility for the telephone to take macro pictures.
Nonetheless, you’re left with a major improve over the iPhone SE third-generation as the principle lens here’s a 48-megapixel fusion digicam that may shoot at 1x or 2x. You’ll have entry to edit your captures within the Pictures app with the flexibility to make use of AI to ‘clear up’ your images. Nonetheless, if you wish to add your individual flare or take to how the iPhone shoots, you gained’t get the newest and biggest Photographic Kinds from Apple.
This isn’t a deal-breaker, however you gained’t essentially have the ability to finesse and tweak these to your liking. The opposite lacking piece of {hardware} is the Digicam Management – it’s not right here. Although, with the arrival of the Motion Button, you would set this to open the Digicam app.
MagSafe is lacking
Certainly one of my favourite elements of the iPhone, because it was launched with the iPhone 12, is MagSafe – it makes wi-fi charging a lot simpler and powers an ever-growing accent ecosystem. I had excessive hopes that Apple would have tossed the round magnetic ring onto its subsequent inexpensive iPhone, however that’s not the case.
The iPhone 16e merely presents wi-fi charging utilizing the unique Qi normal, similar to the iPhone SE’s third-generation predecessor. It could possibly additionally cost at a most of seven.5 watts, which is a bit lower than MagSafe or Qi-2.
One potential benefit, although, is with no ring and a slimmer charging coil, Apple may need been in a position to make use of an even bigger battery cell inside. Apple guarantees as much as 26 hours of video playback, which tops the iPhone 16.
No mmWave or ultra-wideband connectivity
Lastly, relating to the numerous issues lacking, the iPhone 16e solely helps 5G Sub-6 Ghz. This implies this iPhone can’t hook up with the mmWave spectrum for probably sooner speeds. The iPhone 16 helps this, however it’s value noting that Apple is conserving this commonality with the earlier iPhone SE.
A bigger lacking type of connectivity right here although is Apple’s second-generation ultra-wideband chip, which allows issues like Precision Discovering with AirTags or newer AirPods and can be being utilized by some forthcoming good residence devices like door locks. This an odd omission, although it’s doubtless executed to cut back prices and separate the iPhone 16e from the iPhone 16.
Whereas the iPhone 16e helps Bluetooth 5.3 just like the iPhone 16, it solely rocked Wi-Fi 6 versus Wi-Fi 7. Thread connectivity can be lacking right here.
Solely two colours
Certainly one of my, and plenty of others’, favourite elements of the iPhone 16 lineup was the usual and Plus colours. Merely put, they had been pleasant, enjoyable, and vibrant – really including some flare to the iPhone and permitting you to choose the one which matched your private model.
For many who wished to see an Ultramarine or Pink iPhone 16e, although, that is not occurring … not less than at launch. The iPhone 16e solely is available in black or white, each matte choices.