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Need-to-knows
- No MagSafe charging
- A single rear 48MP camera lens with dual capability (2x telephoto included)
- Slightly lighter ans shorter than the iPhone 16
- $599/£599 for the 128GB model
Apple has announced a new smartphone at a mid-range price for the first time since the iPhone SE 3; the iPhone 16e. Rumours originally touted that Apple was going to release the iPhone SE 4 in February 2025 but instead, the iPhone 16e has arrived!
The SE has long been Apple’s budget-friendly smartphone, from its first generation to the iPhone SE 2 (2020) and 3 (2022). But now we have the iPhone 16e to take the moniker of Apple’s so-called ‘budget’ phone.
Read Mark’s iPhone 16e opinion here!
The 16e gives consumers the option to not have to lug around an iPhone 16 or their Pro Max counterparts, and still get some of Apple’s latest tech like the A18 chip.
So let’s delve into all the iPhone 16e details from its release date to the processor, camera and, importantly, the price.
iPhone 16e release date
Now that Apple has published an official press release, we have a confirmed release date. The iPhone 16e will be available to preorder on Friday 21st February, with units going on sale on Friday 28th February.
Read Mark’s Samsung S25 Ultra review here!
iPhone 16e price
The iPhone 16e will be available in three storage options; 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. The prices for each model are as follows:
- $599/£599 – 128GB
- $699/£699 – 256GB
- $899/£899 – 512GB
Some of our favourite mid-range phones:– OnePlus 13R review– Motorola Edge 50 Pro review– Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review
iPhone 16e specification overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White |
| Design | Aluminium frame, Ceramic Shield front, Glass back |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Size & Weight | Width: 71.5 mm (2.82 in) Height: 146.7 mm (5.78 in) Depth: 7.80 mm (0.31 in) Weight: 167g (5.88 oz) |
| Display | Super Retina XDR display 6.1″ OLED 2532×1170 resolution (460 ppi), True Tone, 800 nits typical brightness, 1200 nits peak |
| Durability | IP68 water & dust resistance (6m for 30 mins) |
| Chip | A18 chip. 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores), 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Apple Intelligence | Full suite including Image Playground and Genmoji |
| Rear Camera | 48MP and 12MP 2x telephoto 2-in-1 camera system (only one lens) – 10x digital zoom |
| Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision (24/25/30/60 fps) 1080p & 720p Dolby Vision Slo-mo (1080p at 120/240 fps) |
| Front Camera | 12MP |
| Security | Face ID |
| Mobile & Wireless | 5G, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Audio Playback | Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio playback |
| Buttons & Connectors | Volume up/down, Action button, Side button, USB-C port (USB 2, 480Mb/s) Built-in stereo speakers & microphones |
| Battery & Charging | Video playback: Up to 26 hours, Streaming: Up to 21 hours, Audio playback: Up to 90 hours, Fast charge: 50% in 30 min, Not MagSafe compatible |
| Sensors | Face ID, Barometer, Gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity, Dual ambient light sensors |
| Operating System | iOS 18 |
iPhone 16e Design and Display
The design of the iPhone 16e is actually more like that of the iPhone 13 mini than it is iPhone SE 3. But even then, it is bigger in terms of screen size and weight.
The iPhone 16e has the same squared edges and rounded corners as the standard iPhone 16 but with a slightly smaller 6.1 inch display. Like the iPhone 16, the 16e will also only have a 90Hz refresh rate on the display, a specification that Apple has fallen behind recently compared to competitors.
The iPhone 16e has a peak brightness of 1200 nits which is considerably lower than the 2000 nits of the standard iPhone 16. It’s an even weaker comparison when you look at something like the OnePlus 13R which has a typical brightness (not even peak) of 1600 nits and is 120Hz. The 16e and 13R cost about the same but the OnePlus has vastly superior display hardware.
Interestingly, the iPhone 16e has been given the Action Button which was exclusively available of Pro and Pro Max models when first introduced with the iPhone 15. You can programme the Action Button to act as a shortcut to things like the Camera or Torch app. And with the end of the SE line, it also means you can no longer buy an iPhone with a home button from Apple.
📱 Read our full iPhone 16 Pro Max review
The metal frame is made from Aluminium and there is a glass back to finish off what is now a well-recognised Apple design philosophy.
iPhone 16e Colours
Here’s an easy one, the iPhone 16e will only come in two colours; black and white.
The iPhone SE series was known for it’s bolder colour options but Apple sees the 16e more of an iPhone 16 Lite rather than an entirely distinct device.
iPhone 16e Processor
In one of the stronger areas for the iPhone 16e, Apple has given it the latest A18 chip. That means it is on a par with the iPhone 16, at least on paper. It also means that it is compatible with Apple Intelligence.
The A18 chip has 8GB of RAM with 17% higher memory bandwidth than the previous generation found on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. As such, the iPhone 16e is the cheapest way to access Apple’s upper echelons of mobile phone performance. This also gives the 16e an element of security in terms of making a purchase; the A18 chip will be powerful enough for many years.
According to Apple, the 16e is 80% faster than the iPhone 11. This tells you a lot about where Apple is going with this device. It is clearly aimed at people still using older devices that want a cheaper way to upgrade.
iPhone 16e Camera
Like the iPhone SE series, the iPhone 16e only has one camera lens. Apple says they have developed Fusion technology that makes it like having two different lenses integrated into one.
It is a 48MP main sensor with an integrated 2x telephoto capability and 10x digital zoom. Apple says the resolution is the same as the entire iPhone 16 range.
You can also shoot 4K video which is a nice addition to a budget phone. Overall, it’s a pretty limited camera system that takes very good photos, the same as the ones on the standard iPhone 16.
iPhone 16e Battery
Apple says that the iPhone 16e has up to 26 hours of battery when watching video and 21 hours when streaming. That compares to 22 hours of video on the iPhone 16. It is unlikely that the battery is actually larger than the iPhone 16 so those gains are likely down to software/other hardware efficiency savings.
Charging is conducted via USB-C, not Lightning with fast charge that reportedly gives you 50% battery in 30 minutes. The big talking point is that the iPhone 16e doesn’t have MagSafe compatability which means you can’t charge magnetically or use MagSafe accessories like wallets.
iPhone 16e Software: iOS and Apple Intelligence
The iPhone 16e will ship with iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence brings generative AI features to the iPhone like Image Playground where you can edit your photos or Genmoji which allows you to create custom emojis. Apple Intelligence has had a bumpy ride thanks to inacuracies, poor performance levels and general confusion about why you’d ever use it. Read more about that in our Apple Intelligence review.
In short, you get the latest software and AI. The amount that matters to you is entirely your call. Bear in mind, a lot of very cheap phones are getting AI features these days. Check out our Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G review for more on that.
Read about the best iPhone 16 Features
Comparison: iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16
The big question is, how does the iPhon 16e compare to the standard iPhone 16? And is it worth just paying the extra to get the iPhone 16? Here’s a comparison table to help you decide:
| Feature | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16e |
|---|---|---|
| Colours | Black, White, Blue, Pink, Green, Yellow | Black, White |
| Price | 128GB $799/£799, 256GB $899/£899, 512GB $1,099/£1,099 | 128GB $599/£599/ 256GB $699/£699, 512GB $899/£899 |
| Design | Aluminium frame, Ceramic Shield front, Glass back | Aluminium frame, Ceramic Shield front, Glass back |
| Capacity | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Size (mm) | 71.5 x 147.6 x 7.80 | 71.5 x 146.7 x 7.80 |
| Weight | 173g | 167g |
| Display | 6.1″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 2556×1179, 460 ppi | 6.1″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 2532×1170, 460 ppi |
| Brightness | 1000 nits (typical), 1600 nits (HDR), 2000 nits (outdoor) | 800 nits (typical), 1200 nits (HDR) |
| Chip | A18 | A18 |
| Rear Camera | Dual 48MP + 12MP | 2-in-1 48MP Fusion (also enables 12MP 2x Telephoto) |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision, Cinematic mode, ProRes | 4K Dolby Vision, Cinematic mode |
| Face ID | Yes | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP68 (6m for 30 min) | IP68 (6m for 30 min) |
| 5G Support | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Charging Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Battery Life (Video Playback) | Up to 22 hours | Up to 26 hours |
| Fast Charging | 50% in 30 mins with 20W adapter | 50% in 30 mins with 20W adapter |
| Wireless Charging | MagSafe | No MagSafe |
| iOS Version | iOS 18 | iOS 18 |
Read our full iPhone 16 review here!
Key Differences:
- The iPhone 16 has more color options.
- The iPhone 16e is slightly shorter and lighter.
- The iPhone 16 has a higher resolution display and brighter screen.
- The iPhone 16 has Wi-Fi 6E, while the iPhone 16e has Wi-Fi 6.
- The iPhone 16 has a dual-camera system, while the iPhone 16e has a 2-in-1 48MP Fusion camera.
- The iPhone 16 has MagSafe, the iPhone 16e doesn’t.
As you can see, there aren’t a huge amount of noticeable differences on the spec sheet. The main differences are the camera systems which are better and more diverse on the iPhone 16 and the lack of MagSafe. The display is also significantly less bright on the iPhone 16e. If the battery claims hold up in real life, then that would be huge for the iPhone 16e but that remains to be seen.
Overall, it’s
