iPhone 16E assessment: Eh, it’s alright Leave a comment

The iPhone 16E is every thing I 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 cellphone 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 stated, “Oh. It’s similar to my cellphone.” It is similar to his cellphone — a six-year-old iPhone XR — solely up to date with a number of important enhancements (a quicker processor, nicer display screen, and a contemporary digicam, that form 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 cellphone 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 cellphone with one rear digicam, an ordinary 60Hz display screen, wi-fi charging (however no MagSafe), and an ample however unspoken quantity of software program help. Apple has no competitors on the subject of telephones operating iOS. The corporate can gatekeep these conveniences behind a better price ticket, and that’s merely the best way issues will likely be. I’m you, ProMotion.

That is the world the iPhone 16E enters. It’s Apple’s most cost-effective cellphone, nevertheless it’s not low cost — most likely for the aforementioned “lack of competitors” causes. It’s an iPhone that does iPhone issues, nevertheless it’s most likely lacking a minimum of one main function for any given purchaser, whether or not that’s an additional digicam or the comfort of a MagSafe ring. For those who’re clinging desperately to an older mannequin and need 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. However 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 quite you not consider it that means. The SE was the corporate’s budget-friendly line, a form of close-out cut price bin provide on final technology’s chassis with upgraded internals. The design was wildly outdated by the tip, however, hey, it solely price $429. That line seems to have ended with the 16E, which is absolutely a member of the iPhone 16 collection.

However as an alternative of an older design that’s a very whole lot, we’ve a contemporary design that’s solely form 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 primary digicam and no ultrawide to go along with it. You get wired charging, however no MagSafe. The Motion Button, however no Digicam Management. This, not that. And so forth.

There’s a form of equation that may assist decide how a lot it is best to care about this checklist of lacking options. How previous is your present cellphone? Do different individuals in your family use MagSafe equipment that you simply wish to share? Do you even know what MagSafe is? Would you prefer to comply with sports activities scores on the prime of your display screen when you do different issues in your cellphone, or are you a Seattle Mariners fan? (Love hurts, guys.) I don’t know what that actual method is as a result of I barely scraped by in calculus, however simply bear it in thoughts as you learn the remainder of this assessment.

The 16E’s display screen may 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 principle, 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 at least one nit just like the 16’s can, which is just too unhealthy as a result of it’s truthfully cool as hell and helpful while you’re attempting to not get up your partner with a vibrant cellphone display screen. The notch’s existence additionally means no Dynamic Island — that’s the pill-shaped cutout Apple launched with the iPhone 14 Professional, which homes tiny bits of well timed information 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. However the Dynamic Island retains it on the prime of your display screen when you do different issues in your cellphone. It’s helpful, and having gotten used to it, I missed it on the 16E. The additional visible affirmation is good when you will have a timer or display screen recording in progress. The Dynamic Island most likely gained’t be an excellent loss in the event you’re used to a cellphone with out it, although.

MagSafe may be one other case of “in the event you’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. Certain, there’s nonetheless Qi wi-fi charging. And you may all the time use a case with magnets as a workaround if you wish to use MagSafe equipment, even when it’s not a chic resolution. However the great thing about MagSafe is the simplicity, and in the event you’re a case-hater like me then it’s a helpful means so as to add a Pop Socket or a low-profile pockets to your cellphone with out committing to a case. Except for the SE, each iPhone from the 12-series onward has MagSafe. It appears like an ordinary function now, and it’s exhausting 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 gentle, and it delivers good photographs in most conditions. There’s no ultrawide digicam and due to this fact no macro images both. I missed the ultrawide greater than as soon as when stepping backward to border a large shot wasn’t doable. There’s an honest portrait mode, although it’s the older model the place you may’t change the main focus level after the actual fact. Photographic Kinds can be found to assist dial in colour replica, although they’re additionally the previous-gen model and you’ll’t tweak undertones.

It is a digicam system most individuals will likely be completely pleased with. For those who’re in the least inclined photographically and wish extra flexibility — each in focal vary and processing choices — then contemplate an iPhone 16 or 16 Professional. Nevertheless it’s a great digicam for a normal viewers. There’s wonderful 4K video recording, optical picture stabilization, and dependable colour replica. A extra superior cellphone digicam would provide higher probabilities of capturing transferring topics in dim gentle, however this one retains up in most conditions.

A lot of the 16E is acquainted, however there may be one solely new element: Apple’s C1 modem. That is its debut look, and the highway to Apple’s first in-house modem was reportedly stuffed with setbacks and delays. I’ve used it for the previous week to make FaceTime calls, add giant video information in crowded locations, and stream YouTube on the bus. I examined it alongside a daily iPhone 16 outfitted with a Qualcomm-made modem — each on Verizon — and I didn’t see any constant distinction in efficiency between the 2.

Each time I believed the iPhone 16 was faring higher with video name high quality or add speeds, I’d attempt the identical take a look at 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 cellphone. Given the problem Apple seemingly encountered constructing this factor and the complexity of a mobile modem, “it appears tremendous” is definitely an excellent end result for the C1.

Apple claims switching to its personal modem has allowed it to squeeze somewhat extra battery life out of the 16E, providing “the perfect battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone,” based on its press launch. Battery life actually appears good. I spent a day out of the home utilizing numerous navigation, streaming a podcast, testing connectivity, and watching YouTube. I clocked about 5 hours of display screen time and was solely right down to 41 % by the tip of the day. I’m assured that most individuals may 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 latest observe file right here is spotty — and there’s simply no means of realizing that after every week of testing.

The opposite improve right here is Apple Intelligence. Possibly you’ve heard of it? Or seen it on a billboard? Or in a industrial a number of dozen occasions? 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. Nevertheless it’s all right here: the AI writing instruments, Picture Playground, notification summaries, and the up to date Siri with a ChatGPT extension. It’s all fairly forgettable proper now.

Working example: 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 so much about how helpful Apple Intelligence is correct now. Probably the most attention-grabbing stuff is but to return, and the 16E will likely be prepared for it, which is good. However I positively wouldn’t let Apple Intelligence be a deciding think about selecting this cellphone versus, say, an iPhone 15.

That highlights the place I’m caught attempting to determine the 16E. For those who’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 form of is sensible. However 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, nevertheless it’s exhausting to say what’s a necessary iPhone function and what’s not. It’s most likely extra like a mix of options, and for some individuals, the 16E probably gives a mix they’ll be pleased with. Particularly, I imply individuals like my husband and anybody else with an previous iPhone who’s tired of studying what MagSafe is, not often takes footage, and simply desires a dang iPhone. The 16E covers these necessities. For somebody who desires extra flexibility from their smartphone’s digicam or its system of equipment, this isn’t the iPhone for you.

I’d quite have a cool magnetic accent system and a neat quick-glance show function constructed into my cellphone than Apple Intelligence, particularly for $600. It doesn’t fairly add up for me, however perhaps the maths seems somewhat completely different for you.