Yesterday marked a important instant for Apple as it launched the iPhone 16e around the human race . Every iPhone launch is crucial , but the iPhone 16e is in particular important for a few reason .

It ’s the evolution of the Apple iPhone SE lineup , and like its apparitional ancestors , the iPhone 16e features a more affordable yet cutback version of the repose of the lineup . Unlike its ancestors , it also features several hallmark of the iPhone experience , including Face ID , an OLED display , and the latest - multiplication processor .

All this costs $ 599 but comes with many cutback from the more expensive phones that may be dealbreakers for some . These include an OLED display without the 120Hz refresh charge per unit , an Always - On video display from the iPhone 16 Pro batting order , and just a individual camera . Then there ’s theApple C1 modem , with the iPhone 16e being the first phone to sport Apple ’s modem .

The cutbacks over theiPhone 16 Promeant that I expect to brush off it near instantly , but after a few hour with it , I like the iPhone 16e more than I expected to . Here ’s why .

A modern, small-ish iPhone

The iPhone SE card felt like a relic as Apple affect over to a more modern , all - screen design . Most recently , it was the only phone in the lineup that had a menage button , and the last meter I reviewed it , I remember that there was a substantial learning curvature from Apple ’s latest iPhones .

The iPhone 16e deepen all of this , and unlike the SE , it ’s a phone that feels familiar as soon as you break up it up . It ’s get the same ergonomically well-disposed design featured in the iPhone 16 , but it lack the colours of the latter , and if you ’ve used any recent iPhone , it ’ll be 2d nature to start using .

I wish well there were more colors for this outlet — iPhone 5c anyone ? — but it ’s fundamentally a lovely , small iPhone . I say small light ; the 6.1 - inch exhibit is only 0.2 inches small than the iPhone 16 Pro , but the iPhone 6e is 0.5 mm flimsy , 32 Hans C. J. Gram lighter , and a fraction shorter than the Pro . The weight deviation , in special , makes it extremely comfortable in the hand , and it ’s even slightly light than the regulariPhone 16despite the same sizing display .

Considering the mediocre cut-rate sale of the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini , I consider there ’s also a slip to be said that while I like pocket-sized phones , most people require a bigger display . With this in idea , I think the iPhone 16e hits the mark ; the video display is big enough for any drug user to palpate like they have a big screen , but it ’s small enough that it feels comfortable in one script .

The display is great… mostly

There ’s no getting around it : The 60Hz presentation on the iPhone 6e is noticeably less smooth at scroll than the iPhone 16 Pro . This is to be expected as the latter has a 120Hz refresh rate , but perhaps it ’s the quality of every other smartphone exhibit that reach the lower refresh pace even more noticeable . I do n’t call up the iPhone 16 showing feeling this way , but that was also six calendar month ago .

However , every user wo n’t notice the 60Hz , especially considering the quality of the OLED instrument panel . This is a immense rise over the iPhone SE batting order and ostensibly uses the same Super Retina XDR OLED technology found in the rest of the iPhone 16 batting order . Yes , these have other features that set them aside , but the iPhone 16e has a beautiful display , and at 1200 nits peak brightness , it ’s likely lustrous enough for most scenario .

Aside from the refresh rate , the iPhone 16e also frustrate with the lack of Always - on exhibit . The display supports it , so this is a conscious choice on Apple ’s behalf . It remains to be seen how this impact battery living overall , but this is an orbit I ’m frantic to test further .

Solid hardware and the promise of battery

The iPhone 16e is powered by the sameA18 processoras the iPhone 16 andiPhone 16 Plus , and so far , I ’ve yet to see any overall difference in the performance . Without a doubt , this is far more improved over the retiring iPhone SE , but clip will differentiate as to how well this C.P.U. performs .

Under the lens hood , we ask that the iPhone 16e has 8 GB of RAM , which meet the minimum requirement for Apple Intelligence . The iPhone 16e is design to make for Apple ’s take on AI to the masse shot , as one of the setup screens focuses onVisual Intelligence . I like some parts of Apple Intelligence , and it ’s meliorate , but it remains to be see whether this is enough of a draw to attract new customers .

Apple ’s option of the C1 modem for the iPhone 16e means the modem should be more efficient . I ’m excited to see how this perform , but my early run show it to be slower than the iPhone 16 Pro . That was a smattering of tests , so it ’s strictly anecdotical , and I ’ll have a more detailed trial on this presently .

The integral software is powered by the prominent shelling in an iPhone yet . The base iPhone 16 offers 22 hours of television playback , and the iPhone SE 3rd Generation is shit at 15 hour . The iPhone 16e ? 26 hours . Yes , the best barrage fire life on an iPhone this size and similar to the battery life of the behemothiPhone 16 Pro Max . I desire this hand over , as it ’ll be a game - changer for my assault and battery lifetime .

The iPhone 16e has drawbacks, but I like it so far

The iPhone 16e feels very familiar , but it is n’t go to put back any of the existing iPhone 16 lineup . alternatively , it ’s designed for a subset of user who prioritize two thing above all : battery life history and price .

Yes , many low-priced Android phones have better specs at a best or similar Mary Leontyne Price — namely , theOnePlus 13RandPixel 8a — but the iPhone 16e is n’t compete against those . I spent years in phone retail , and I think the iPhone 16e will be extremely democratic for those who do n’t necessitate a fancy tv camera — yes , trillion of people do n’t care about the camera — but need a long - lasting iPhone .

I ’ve not speak about the single camera , but it ’s better than I expected as well . you’re able to read my first impressions of the photographic camera , but the tl;dr is that it ’s astonishingly capable . Of of course , there ’s no ultrawide camera , which could be a deal breaker , but that ’s who the iPhone 16 is for . I ’m especially surprised at the quality of the 2x zoom , as you’re able to see from the picture gallery above .

From my first impressions , the iPhone 16e is the best low-cost iPhone I ’ve ever used . $ 600 may not seem that affordable — especially given the iPhone 16 is usually discounted to this price through carrier deals — but this is a surprisingly nice headphone . The best iPhone 16e deals can snag you the telephone set for next to nothing with your carrier , and that just makes it odorous .

Of of course , I ’ve only spent a few hour with the iPhone 16e , so my findings may yet alter , but I ’m excited to keep trying it .