When it ’s the first half of a year , and a new iPhone has been declare , you bang it ’s not one of Apple ’s next - coevals flagship like theiPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro . alternatively , a new iPhone this meter of class is usually a young SE modelling . Not in 2025 , however . On Wednesday , the world said hello , not to the “ iPhone SE 4 ” but to theiPhone 16e .
The new French telephone replaces the iPhone SE 3 as Apple ’s most affordable iPhone . However , it does n’t take cue from earlier SE models . or else , it resembles the 2022 iPhone 14 , which , like the iPhone SE 3,was removed from the market this workweek .
But make no mistake , the iPhone 16e is n’t the iPhone 14 .
Given that one handset is nearlythree years newerthan the other , one might assume that means the iPhone 6e is better than the iPhone 14 . funnily , that ’s not the suit , at least across the board . In some slip , Apple removed lineament from the discontinued iPhone 14 . These barter - offs make the iPhone 16e $ 200 less expensive than the iPhone 14 when it was ab initio released . And yet , some of these omissions will leave some scratching their head .
The good news
First , permit ’s stick with the positives about the iPhone 16e , and there are many .
The new iPhone 6e include the same terrific 6.1 - column inch Super Retina XDR ( OLED ) display as the iPhone 14 . By comparability , the iPhone SE 4 had an LCD . The result is not only a better showing , but you also get Face ID vs. Touch ID . The New earpiece is also slightly lighter than the iPhone 14 , which is always nice for an objective you ’ll probably carry for hours at a time .
Beyond this , the iPhone 16e has many features that the iPhone 14 does not . This starts with its A18 chip , a significant melioration over the iPhone 14 ’s A15 Bionic chip .
The regular A18 chip , which is also found in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus , represents a significant advancement in performance and efficiency compare to the A15 Bionic . The A18 sport a fast CPU , boasting up to a 50 % increase in f number over the A15 , which results in smooth multitasking and quicker app launches . Its improved GPU offers up to 40 % fast graphics processing , leading to more immersive gaming experience and enhanced performance in diagrammatically demanding covering .
Furthermore , the A18 includes a more advanced Neural Engine , speed machine learning tasks and enable more advanced features . These raise contribute to a more antiphonal and adequate to gimmick , allow for drug user to deal require project while seamlessly enjoying a fluid exploiter experience .
Thanks to the newer cow chip , the iPhone 16e , unlike the iPhone 14 , supportsApple intelligence agency . This is certainly good word for anyone who want a smartphone with Apple ’s first AI creature but want to spend less than they would on other fend for phone .
This newer , more effective chip , coupled with a better battery , imply the iPhone 16e can last up to six more hour between charges than the iPhone 14 . give thanks you , Apple .
Other upgrades on the iPhone 16e compared to the iPhone 14 include the versatileAction Buttonand a USB - C , not Lightning connector . The New telephone set also sport some tricky tv camera upgrades . Visual Intelligencelets you get entropy about your milieu by indicate your iPhone ’s camera at something . It ’s like have a super - powered optical hunting engine in your pocket .
The iPhone 16e also offers practiced optical zoom options and HDR 5 , not HDR 4 , for photo . The latter intend that images contain with the newer telephone will include enhance dynamic mountain range , amend tone mathematical function , and brighter highlights than images take with the iPhone 14 .
Two other fringe benefit you ’ll invite on the iPhone 16e that are missing on the iPhone 14 admit winding noise reduction and Apple ’s Audio Mix characteristic . Both make videos you take more impressive .
The bad
The characteristic above make the iPhone 16e more advance than the similarly design iPhone 14 . However , some differences feel more like a dance step or a few measure back . Each skip was undoubtedly made to let down Apple ’s price for the new phone .
This starts with two pregnant downgrades : no MagSafe and no extremist - wide camera . The first pecker , launched on the iPhone 12 series , leave a convenient and efficient way to wirelessly charge iPhones using magnet embedded in the back of support earpiece . As such , it offer faster and more reliable charging than traditional Qi radio charging .
move on , I realize the iPhone SE 3 also did n’t have an ultra - wide photographic camera . However , Apple ’s decision to produce a phone without one in 2025 is hard to translate . Ultra - full cameras have many advantages , and some of these would appeal to first - fourth dimension iPhone proprietor ( think teenagers ) , such as the ability to take landscapes , originative shots , and more .
Since the iPhone 16e does not have an radical - wide photographic camera , Apple has also elected not to include two camera feature that are on the iPhone 14 : Cinematic mode and Action mode . These modes enhance video tone by add together a profoundness - of - field issue and stableness to shaky video footage .
Another noteworthy omission is that the iPhone 16e does not have an ultra - broadband check . These bit enable a cooking stove of features that raise drug user experience . For good example , they allow precise location trailing , ameliorate connectivity , and provide better spacial knowingness .
Not including MagSafe magnets , an extra television camera lens , and an ultra - broadband chip undoubtedly reduces Apple ’s price of manufacturing the iPhone 16e and , in doing so , the company ’s Mary Leontyne Price for the phone .
From a financial standpoint , these omissions do make sense . However , given that the 2022 iPhone 14 had these , the missing feature film feel like a move back for the iPhone card as a whole .
Finally , Apple ’s conclusion to offer the iPhone 16e only in black and white is puzzling . Is this a throwback to 2008 , before Apple discovered that its top - selling product could sell in more than two colors ? Has Apple become supersensitised to the color red ?
The last two iPhone SE models were available in three color , while the first was offered in four . have sex this , it probably would n’t be asking too much for Apple to give budget iPhone buyers at least a choice of three colors , right ?
The bottom line
Anyone who owns aniPhone SE 3 or earlierwill appreciate the iPhone 16e — they will love it , in fact . The telephone feature a tumid display , enhance internals , and numerous other upgrades . Those acclivity alone are all Apple demand to justify the iPhone 16e compared to the iPhone SE 3 , and I ’m cognizant of this .
However , given that the iPhone 16e has replaced the iPhone SE 3andthe iPhone 14 in the lineup , some might not be too felicitous about the new handset ’s arrival . These kinfolk might have await more from Apple . MagSafe , more than one rear camera , and more color — is that asking too much ? I think not .
Of course , one can have all those thing — and more , by ponying up an extra $ 100 and buying a regular iPhone 15 . Of course , that would mean no Apple Intelligence , but that ’s a different story for another clock time .
