Review | iPhone 16e review: cheaper Apple smartphone with fewer features is not for everyone

A fast downloading smartphone with a long lasting battery and new modem, the economy Apple handset lacks a decent camera

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The iPhone 16e is Apple’s budget phone. It lacks a number of features found on the regular iPhone16 but costs at least US$200 less. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images

Published: 5:45pm, 18 Mar 2025

A new iPhone for US$600? Entry-level prices like these and even lower were last seen with the iPhone SE. However, that device was pretty far behind in terms of form factor, battery life and other features.

With the iPhone 16e, there’s now a new entry-level model that’s US$200 cheaper than the iPhone 16. For that, you get a 6.1-inch iPhone 14-style smartphone with Apple’s A18 chip, 5G, Apple Intelligence, a new Apple-branded modem and more.

However, the entry-level price means there are features you don’t get. Compared to an iPhone 16, they include an ultra-wide-angle lens, camera button, Magsafe, ultra-wideband (UWB) radio, and comparative screen brightness.

But enough of the supposed flaws. In reality, many of the missing features or capabilities are rarely noticeable in everyday life. The iPhone 16e is a fast smartphone with a long battery life by iPhone standards. The iPhone 15 Pro we used in our comparison regularly ran out of power sooner.

The Apple iPhone16e has a new chip for cellular and GPS connection, developed in-house by Apple. Photo: EPA-EFE

One of the biggest innovations under the hood is a new chip for the cellular and GPS connection called C1. It’s Apple’s first in-house modem development. In everyday use, the 16e uploads and downloads data quickly using 4G and 5G and handles phone calls reliably with the usual quality.