iPhone 16E evaluate: Eh, it’s alright

The iPhone 16E is the whole lot 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 telephone has ‘em.

My husband picked up the 16E, involved that he must “study one thing new” to make use of it. He swiped round for a second and mentioned, “Oh. It’s similar to my telephone.” It is similar to his telephone — a six-year-old iPhone XR — solely up to date with a couple of important enhancements (a quicker 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 offers you and nothing extra. On Android, you should purchase a $500 telephone with a quick refresh-rate display screen, two rear cameras, seven years of software program help, and wi-fi charging. On iOS, you should purchase this $599 telephone with one rear digicam, a normal 60Hz display screen, wi-fi charging (however no MagSafe), and an ample however unspoken quantity of software program help. Apple has no competitors with regards to telephones operating iOS. The firm can gatekeep these conveniences behind the next price ticket, and that’s merely the best way issues might be. I’m taking a look at you, ProMovement.

This is the world the iPhone 16E enters. It’s Apple’s most cost-effective telephone, however it’s not low cost — in all probability for the aforementioned “lack of competitors” causes. It’s an iPhone that does iPhone issues, however it’s in all probability lacking at the least one main function for any given purchaser, whether or not that’s an additional digicam or the comfort of a MagSafe ring. If 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. But 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 reasonably you not consider it that approach. The SE was the corporate’s budget-friendly line, a sort 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 The design was wildly outdated by the top, however, hey, it solely value $429. That line seems to have ended with the 16E, which is totally a member of the iPhone 16 collection.

But as an alternative of an older design that’s a very whole lot, we’ve a contemporary design that’s solely sort of a deal. It’s $200 cheaper than the $799 iPhone 16 and has an analogous 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 most important digicam and no ultrawide to go along with it. You get wired charging, however no MagSafe. The Action Button, however no Camera Control. This, not that. And so on.

There’s a sort of equation that may assist decide how a lot it’s best to care about this checklist of lacking options. How outdated 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 wish to comply with sports activities scores on the high of your display screen 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 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 evaluate.

The 16E’s display screen could 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 concept, 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 just too dangerous as a result of it’s truthfully cool as hell and useful once you’re attempting to not get up your partner with a shiny telephone display screen. The notch’s existence additionally means no Dynamic Island — that’s the pill-shaped cutout Apple launched with the iPhone 14 Pro, which homes tiny bits of well timed data you would possibly wish to see at a look.

All that time-sensitive info, like reside sports activities scores and the proximity of your incoming Uber, continues to be introduced on the 16E’s lock display screen. But the Dynamic Island retains it on the high of your display screen whilst you do different issues in your telephone. It’s useful, 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 a terrific loss if you happen to’re used to a telephone with out it, although.

MagSafe is likely to be one other case of “if you happen to’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. Sure, there’s nonetheless Qi wi-fi charging. And you possibly can 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 answer. But the great thing about MagSafe is the simplicity, and if you happen to’re a case-hater like me then it’s a useful approach so as to add a Pop Socket or a low-profile pockets to your telephone with out committing to a case. Aside from the SE, each iPhone from the 12-series onward has MagSafe. It looks like a normal function 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 photos 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 doable. 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 Styles can be found to assist dial in shade copy, although they’re additionally the previous-gen model and you may’t tweak undertones.

This is a digicam system most individuals might be completely proud of. If you’re in the least inclined photographically and wish extra flexibility — each in focal vary and processing choices — then take into account an iPhone 16 or 16 Pro. But it’s a great digicam for a normal viewers. There’s glorious 4K video recording, optical picture stabilization, and dependable shade copy. A extra superior telephone digicam would provide higher possibilities of capturing transferring topics in dim mild, however this one retains up in most conditions.

Much of the 16E is acquainted, however there’s one totally new element: Apple’s C1 modem. This is its debut look, and the street to Apple’s first in-house modem was reportedly filled with setbacks and delays. I’ve used it for the previous week to make FaceTime calls, add giant video recordsdata 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.

Every time I assumed the iPhone 16 was faring higher with video name high quality or add speeds, I’d strive 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 high quality” is definitely a terrific 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 “one of the best battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone,” in accordance 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 screen time and was solely all the way down to 41 % by the top of the day. I’m assured that most individuals might get by way 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 figuring out that after every week of testing.

The different improve right here is Apple Intelligence. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Or seen it on a billboard? Or in a business a couple of dozen instances? Apple would really like us to consider its AI as a marquee function on the 16E, however Apple Intelligence simply doesn’t really feel like one — not but, anyway. But it’s all right here: the AI writing instruments, Image Playground, notification summaries, and the up to date Siri with a ChatGPT extension. It’s all fairly forgettable proper now.

Case in level: 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 possibility turned on. I sorted it out — I suppose one thing about the best way I set it up prevented the required AI fashions from downloading — however this says quite a bit about how helpful Apple Intelligence is correct now. The most fascinating stuff is but to come back, and the 16E might be prepared for it, which is good. But I positively wouldn’t let Apple Intelligence be a deciding think about choosing this telephone versus, say, an iPhone 15.

That highlights the place I’m caught attempting to determine the 16E. If 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 smart. But 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, however it’s laborious to say what’s a vital iPhone function and what’s not. It’s in all probability extra like a mixture of options, and for some individuals, the 16E probably presents a mixture they’ll be proud of. Specifically, I imply individuals 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 reasonably 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 a little bit totally different for you.