Apple has officially retired the SE line and replaced it with a new letter in the alphabet — “e.” The arrival of the iPhone 16e in 2025 marks a major shift in Apple’s strategy for its most affordable device. But does it actually hit the sweet spot between price and performance? Or does it fall into an awkward “no man’s land” between mid-range and premium?
In this in-depth Apple iPhone 16e review, we’ll break down every detail: specs, size, features, battery life, design, and how it stacks up against the iPhone 16. Let’s dive in.
iPhone 16e At a Glance
| Feature | Specification |
| Display | 6.1-inch OLED, 60Hz |
| Processor | Apple A18 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage Options | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB |
| Rear Camera | 12MP (wide) |
| Front Camera | 12MP |
| Battery | 4,005mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired / 7.5W wireless |
| MagSafe | Not supported |
| Face ID | Yes |
| Action Button | Yes |
| OS | iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence |
| iPhone 16e Price | Starts at $599 |
| iPhone 16e Release Date | March 2025 |
Design and Build: A Familiar Face
The iPhone 16e design looks a lot like the iPhone 14. Flat aluminum sides, a matte finish, and a 6.1-inch front panel with a notch. Unlike newer iPhones that feature Dynamic Island, the 16e keeps things traditional — no pill cutout here.
The most notable addition is the Action Button, replacing the old mute switch. It’s customizable and useful, whether you’re launching the camera or toggling a Focus Mode.
You also get a USB-C port, meaning the Lightning era is now officially over. This makes cable management far easier across your devices.
iPhone 16e size is the same as the iPhone 14/15/16 — compact and pocketable without feeling small. For those who loved the compact SE design, this may feel big. But for modern phone users, it’s the new baseline.
iPhone 16e Screen Size & Display Quality
The iPhone 16e screen size is 6.1 inches, using a 60Hz OLED display with support for wide color gamut and True Tone.
While colors look rich and contrast is excellent, there’s a major omission here: no 120Hz refresh rate. This puts the 16e behind most Android phones in its price range, and even older iPhones like the 13 Pro, which had ProMotion.
That said, it’s a noticeable upgrade over the SE’s 4.7-inch LCD, and everyday users may not mind the slower refresh rate.
iPhone 16e Features: Balanced or Bare Minimum?
Here’s where things get tricky. Apple has stripped down the feature set to keep the price at $599.
Included Features:
- A18 chip (same as iPhone 16)
- Face ID
- Action Button
- USB-C
- Apple Intelligence (iOS 18 AI tools)
- Satellite Connectivity
Missing Features:
- No MagSafe
- No ultra-wide camera
- No Dynamic Island
- No ProMotion (120Hz refresh)
- No Cinematic or Action Mode for video
The iPhone 16e features list is smartly selected to prioritize performance and core camera quality. But it definitely skimps on hardware perks like magnetic charging and multi-lens photography.
iPhone 16e Camera Review
The iPhone 16e camera setup is minimal: one 12MP rear camera and a 12MP selfie camera. That’s it. No ultra-wide, no telephoto, no gimmicks.
But the good news? That single lens is great.
Photo quality is comparable to the iPhone 15 in good light. HDR, Smart HDR 5, and Deep Fusion all help the 16e take clean, vibrant photos.
Video is also impressive. You can shoot in 4K at 60fps with strong detail and clarity. It even includes Audio Zoom and Audio Mix, which reduce wind or background noise.
However, missing features like Cinematic Mode and Action Mode will be missed by creators or casual video shooters.
Verdict: The iPhone 16e camera is excellent — but minimal.
iPhone 16e Performance
Here’s where the 16e outshines every phone in its price range.
It’s powered by the Apple A18 chip and comes with 8GB of RAM — the same setup as the base iPhone 16. This means blazing-fast performance, effortless app switching, and long-term software support.
Benchmark Scores:
- Geekbench 6 (Single-core): 3166
- Geekbench 6 (Multi-core): 7763
- 3DMark GPU: Just below iPhone 16 (one less GPU core)
In real-world terms, it performs better than the Galaxy S24 FE and Pixel 9. Gaming is smooth, and Apple’s hardware optimization ensures the phone stays fast for years.
Also worth noting: the 16e supports Apple Intelligence, Apple’s new AI suite in iOS 18. This includes:
- AI-generated summaries
- Writing tools system-wide
- Visual Lookup
- Genmoji (custom emoji with AI)
- ChatGPT integration with Siri
iPhone 16e Battery Life
One of the most underrated upgrades? The iPhone 16e battery. It packs a 4,005mAh battery, the biggest ever in a 6.1-inch iPhone.
Here’s how it performed in tests:
| Test | iPhone 16e | iPhone 16 | iPhone 15 |
| Web Browsing | 17h 27min | 16h 48min | 13h 25min |
| Video Streaming | 6h 59min | 7h 30min | 7h 51min |
| Gaming | 7h 45min | 9h 52min | 8h 24min |
The iPhone 16e battery life is excellent for day-to-day use, especially in web and casual usage. However, it slightly underperforms in heavy video playback and gaming.
Charging is where things fall short:
- Wired: 20W, 47% in 30 minutes, full in ~1h 40m
- Wireless: 7.5W, 4h 54min to full
- No MagSafe support
This is the first iPhone since 2020 to skip MagSafe, which feels like a step back.
iPhone 16e Audio and Haptics
Audio is well-balanced, though not loud. The stereo speakers have a touch more bass than you’d expect.
The Taptic Engine continues to deliver the best haptic feedback in the industry — sharp, satisfying, and precise.
iPhone 16e Colors
The iPhone 16e comes in four color options:
- Midnight
- Starlight
- Blue
- Yellow
These are the same as the iPhone 15 color palette — soft, pastel finishes with a clean aluminum look.
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16
Here’s a quick breakdown of how the iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 stack up:
| Feature | iPhone 16e | iPhone 16 |
| Display | 6.1″ OLED, 60Hz | 6.1″ OLED, 60Hz + Dynamic Island |
| Processor | A18 | A18 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Rear Cameras | 1 (wide) | 2 (wide + ultra-wide) |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Battery | 4,005mAh | 3,561mAh |
| MagSafe | No | Yes |
| Price | $599 | $799 |
If you don’t need the second camera or MagSafe, the 16e gives you 80% of the iPhone 16 experience at $200 less.
iPhone 16e Price and Availability
The iPhone 16e price starts at $599 for the 128GB version, with 256GB and 512GB options available for $699 and $899 respectively.
The iPhone 16e release date was March 6, 2025, and it’s available globally through Apple’s website and retail partners.
In India, pricing starts at ₹59,900, though exchange and bank offers can bring that down.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Flagship A18 chip and performance
- Excellent single-lens photo and video quality
- Best battery life in a 6.1-inch iPhone
- USB-C and Action Button
- Apple Intelligence support
Cons:
- No ultra-wide camera
- No MagSafe
- No 120Hz display
- Limited wireless charging speed
FAQs
Q1: What is the iPhone 16e price?
A: Starts at $599 (₹59,900 in India) for 128GB.
Q2: What’s the iPhone 16e screen size?
A: 6.1 inches OLED display.
Q3: How is iPhone 16e battery life?
A: Best among 6.1-inch iPhones, with 17h+ web browsing and solid daily endurance.
Q4: Is there MagSafe on iPhone 16e?
A: No, it only supports Qi wireless charging at 7.5W.
Q5: How does iPhone 16e compare to iPhone 16?
A: Same processor and screen size, but 16e lacks an ultra-wide camera, MagSafe, and Dynamic Island.
Final Verdict
The iPhone 16e is Apple’s smartest budget(ish) move in years. It ditches the legacy SE design in favor of modern performance, a bigger screen, and powerful hardware — all without jumping into full flagship pricing.
If you’re okay with skipping MagSafe and an extra camera, the iPhone 16e is the most powerful iPhone under $600 — and possibly the best compact phone in that price range.
