Apple iPhone 16e

The iPhone 16e replaces the iPhone SE line as Apple's cheapest current iPhone, and it takes a different approach than its predecessor: instead of reusing an old flagship shell with new internals, it borrows the display size and general silhouette of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 while dropping in this generation's A18 chip. The result is a phone that looks and feels a step behind Apple's current flagships in a few visible ways — a large notch instead of the Dynamic Island, a single 60Hz camera — but performs like a current-generation device where it matters for day-to-day use.

Design and build

At 167 grams and built around a 6.1-inch screen, the 16e is noticeably more compact and lighter than the Pro Max, and closer in feel to older, smaller iPhones that some buyers have been waiting for Apple to bring back. The aluminum frame and Ceramic Shield glass front and back give it the same drop resistance and premium feel as pricier iPhones, and Apple carried over IP68 water resistance, which is genuinely rare at this price across the entire phone market, Android included.

Display

The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel is the same size and resolution used on the iPhone 13 and 14, which means sharp text and accurate colors, but a 60Hz refresh rate that will feel noticeably less fluid than the 90Hz and 120Hz screens increasingly common on mid-range Android phones in this price bracket. For anyone coming from an older iPhone this won't register as a downgrade, but it is the clearest compromise Apple made to hit this price.

Performance and software

This is where the 16e earns its keep: the A18 chip is the same silicon (with one fewer GPU core) found in the standard iPhone 16, meaning app launches, gaming, and multitasking all perform at a level that most phones costing twice as much can't match. It's also the debut of Apple's own C1 modem, replacing the Qualcomm modem used in every previous iPhone, which Apple says improves battery efficiency on cellular data, though independent battery tests suggest the gains are modest rather than dramatic.

Camera

The single 48MP rear camera is capable in good light, with a 2x lossless zoom crop that works reasonably well thanks to the high native resolution, but there's no ultra-wide lens at all, which limits creative framing options compared to virtually every other phone in this guide. Video tops out at 4K60, which is respectable, and the 12MP selfie camera with autofocus is shared with the pricier iPhone 16 line.

Battery and charging

Apple rates the 16e's battery at up to 26 hours of video playback, helped by the smaller, more power-efficient screen and the new C1 modem. Charging is capped at Apple's usual wired fast-charging speeds and a modest 7.5W over Qi wireless — there's no MagSafe magnetic array, so wireless chargers won't snap into alignment automatically the way they do on flagship iPhones.

Our take

The 16e makes the most sense for someone who wants current-generation iPhone performance and long software support without paying flagship prices, and who won't miss a high refresh-rate screen or a second rear camera. It's a clear step down in a few visible ways from the iPhone 16, but the chip inside is not a compromise at all.