Apple iPhone 16e Review: A18 Chip and Apple Intelligence for $599

Apple quietly launched its latest budget smartphone, the $599 iPhone 16e, with no major event—just a tweet from CEO Tim Cook days before a press release announcement. Unlike past unveilings, there were no in-person or online showcases, nor a media frenzy to capture images of the device.

The iPhone 16e isn’t a groundbreaking release but rather a practical one. It blends elements from previous models, resembling the iPhone 13 and 14 in size and featuring the familiar display notch. While it includes the iPhone 15’s Action button, it lacks the iPhone 16’s Camera Control.

Perhaps the most notable innovation is Apple’s custom C1 modem, marking the company’s first foray into modem development. Though modems rarely excite consumers, Apple’s shift to in-house design is a significant step.

A Budget iPhone with Flagship DNA

Despite borrowing from earlier models, the iPhone 16e carries features from Apple’s latest flagships, justifying its new naming scheme. The A18 chip, the same processor as the standard iPhone 16, sets it apart from the previous iPhone SE lineup. This makes the 16e not only $200 cheaper than the iPhone 16 but also more future-proof, as Apple is likely to support the A18 longer than the iPhone 15’s A16 chip.

Beyond software updates and security patches, future-proofing also means access to Apple Intelligence, Apple’s emerging generative AI platform. Until now, only the iPhone 16 series and high-end iPhone 15 models could run this feature.

Make no mistake—the real highlight here isn’t any specific chip, but the price. Analysts see the iPhone 16e as a strategic move to help Apple regain traction in key markets like China and India. While a $200 reduction from the entry-level iPhone may not seem drastic, it matters, especially in developing regions where premium flagship models often face challenges.

Lowering the price doesn’t guarantee a surge of new iPhone users. Apple faces fierce competition from domestic brands in China, a challenge likely to intensify amid rising trade tensions.

A Tough Sell in Price-Sensitive Markets

In markets like India, factors complicate the 16e’s appeal. While the iPhone 14 is harder to find in the U.S. after its discontinuation, both the iPhone 14 and 15 remain available through retail channels elsewhere. The iPhone 15, still officially sold for $699, creates only a $100 gap between it and the 16e—not nearly as wide as the price difference between mid-tier and flagship Android phones. Apple doesn’t make budget devices, and affordable Android options have always been plentiful.

Adding to the complexity, the 16e’s iPhone 14-inspired design doesn’t feel as dated as the last SE did when it launched in 2022. While it retains the display notch instead of the Dynamic Island (introduced on the 14 Pro), Apple’s design language hasn’t changed dramatically in recent years. As a result, the 16e still looks and feels like a modern iPhone.

This is an advantage for most buyers, but some will lament the loss of Touch ID in favor of Face ID. The 16e also marks the end of the compact iPhone era—Apple no longer offers a model with a screen under 6 inches, leaving fans of smaller devices without an option.

Similar Displays, Subtle Differences

The iPhone 15, iPhone 16e, and iPhone 16 all feature a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with similar designs, but with a few key distinctions. The 16e retains the notch instead of the Dynamic Island and has a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, compared to 2,000 nits on the other two models. Despite these differences, their dimensions and weights are nearly identical.

All three include a USB-C port, as required by law, but the 16e lacks the MagSafe connector found on the other models. It still supports Qi wireless charging, though at a slower 7.5 watts, compared to 15 watts on the iPhone 15 and 25 watts on the iPhone 16. However, the 16e boasts the longest battery life of the three—26 hours versus 22 hours for the 16 and 20 hours for the 15. This is partly due to its new C1 modem, which is more power-efficient and compact, allowing for a larger battery than the iPhone 16.

Both the iPhone 16 and 16e are powered by the A18 chip, featuring a six-core CPU and a 16-core neural engine. The 16e, however, has a slightly less powerful four-core GPU, while the 16 includes five cores. Storage options for all three start at 128GB, with upgrades to 256GB or 512GB. Additionally, the 16 and 16e come with 8GB of RAM, compared to the 15’s 6GB—an advantage that enhances on-device Apple Intelligence processing.

A Worthwhile Upgrade?

Apple Intelligence offers text rewriting, summarization, and generative imagery via Image Playground, but its value depends on individual needs. Apple is committed to generative AI, and while future updates may enhance it, skipping the technology now could lead to regrets later.

The 16e also supports Visual Intelligence, Apple’s take on Google Lens, though it lacks Camera Control. Its biggest trade-off is a single rear camera, which Apple markets as a “2-in-1” system. Computational photography helps preserve image quality, but a single lens still limits versatility. For some, this justifies spending more on the iPhone 15 or 16, though the 16e remains a solid upgrade over the last iPhone SE.

With each $100 price cut, some features are inevitably left behind—that’s just how margins work. Choosing the best entry-level iPhone now depends on which features matter most and what compromises you’re willing to make.

The iPhone 16e is all about prioritization. If you want the latest tech, spending the extra $200 for the iPhone 16 makes sense. If Apple Intelligence isn’t a must-have, the iPhone 15 is a solid alternative.

Ultimately, the gap between the iPhone 16 and 16e is surprisingly small. The 16e focuses on Apple Intelligence with the A18 chip and 8GB of RAM but forgoes MagSafe, Dynamic Island, Camera Control, and a dual-camera setup to stay affordable. If you can live without those, the $200 savings might be worth it.

Read the original article on: TechCrunch

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