I tried Apple’s latest budget iPhone and it’s more than enough phone for most people

The iPhone 16e is a big change from the iPhone SE (2022) model it replaces. While the SE was a generation of processor behind when it launched (and three generations behind before it was replaced), the 16e features an A18 chip, like the one used in the iPhone 16. Crucially, this means the phone is compatible with all the new Apple Intelligence features.

It finally sees the end of the fingerprint sensor and uses FaceID like the rest of the range instead. That means the phone is more secure and has more space for the screen on the front. However, there have to be compromises when the phone costs considerably less than the standard iPhone 16. Like the SE, it only features a single rear camera – though it is a good one, as we’ll come to later. It also forgoes the magnetic wireless charging (MagSafe) in favour of a non-magnetic and slower Qi wireless charging option.

For those who don’t want MagSafe and don’t need the creative power of a full camera array, the iPhone 16e is probably the phone you’d choose. I’ve been using it for the last week, and I can certainly see the appeal.

How much is the iPhone 16e?

The iPhone SE was first announced on 19th February and was fully available to buy on 28th February 2025. Prices for the phone start from £599 / $599 for the 128GB storage version, going up to £899 / $899 for the 512GB model. Colour choice is limited to just black or white finishes, but there are five colours for the accompanying silicone case if you want to add a little flourish to it.

A new design

Compared to the iPhone SE, the new iPhone 16e is noticeably larger in all dimensions. In fact, it's much closer in size to the iPhone 16, differing only a fraction of a millimeter and weighing three grams less. From the front, it resembles the iPhone 14, thanks to the notch on the display for the cameras and sensors, rather than the newer Dynamic Island design.

As with previous non-pro iPhones, the case is constructed from aerospace-grade aluminium, with a glass back. As there’s only the choice of black or while finishes, there’s no colour infusion on the back, but both colours have a matte effect on the rear except for the glossy Apple logo.

The biggest giveaway that this is the 16e model is the singular camera on the rear, paired with the sensor and true tone flash. The rear camera lens is similar in size to the two lenses on the 16 and much bigger than the one on the SE.

Another notable change on the design side is the addition of the Action button. This replaces the mute switch and allows you to customise its functionality. It sits just above the volume buttons on the left-hand side of the phone. One feature the 16e doesn’t have is the new Camera Control button that is featured on the rest of the iPhone 16 range. Is this a big deal? Well, with a reduced photographic selection on this phone, probably not.

As much as I liked the previous SE range, it always felt a little cheaper or older than the other iPhones. That’s certainly not the case with the 16e. This phone feels every bit as premium as the iPhone 16 and finally sits naturally in the range rather than as an outsider.

What's new on the iPhone 16e?

There are some key features that will make the iPhone 16e appealing for those looking for a new phone, starting with the display. This 6.1-inch super retina XDR display is the same size and resolution as the iPhone 16 screen, with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 2532x1170 pixel resolution and true tone – a big step up from the 4.7-inch SE display.

It’s only in the brightness where the 16e screen is inferior to the 16, offering a 1200 nits peak brightness, while the 16 has 1600 nits and 2000 nits brightness for outdoor. For general use, this is still very capable, and I didn’t find it to be lacking at all.

Like the iPhone 16, this display has a 60Hz refresh rate. In the Android market, 120Hz has become the standard, with even cheaper mid-range models like the Nothing 3a offering this spec. On the iPhone, only the flagship models, like the iPhone 16 Pro offer the ProMotion technology, which includes adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. While 120Hz offers smoother operation from web browsing to gaming, it’s not a deal-breaker for most users. The bigger issue for me is that without the adaptive refresh rate, the iPhone 16e (like the iPhone 16) can’t offer the always-on lock screen.

One important addition to the 16e is FaceID, used to unlock the phone as well as for security in apps and for payment. The iPhone SE was the last handset to still use Touch ID, which scans your fingerprint. However, this is still also used by all iPads with the exception of the iPad Pro models, as well as MacBooks.

With the addition of a USB-C port, it’s also the final iPhone to ditch the Lightning port. That means that all of Apple’s current line-up now uses USB-C charging – with the slight exception of the Apple Watch, which needs an adapter for magnetic charging.

The big selling point of the iPhone 16e is that it uses the A18 chip and is, therefore, able to run all of the Apple Intelligence features. I was slightly surprised that Apple went with the A18 chip here. I expected it to feature the A17 Pro chip, which was added to the new iPad mini A17, as this is also AI-ready.

This A18 chip is not identical to the one in the iPhone 16. It has four graphics cores rather than five, but the same number of CPU cores (6) and Neural Engine cores (16). You need to go back to the iPhone 13 or iPhone SE to find a 4-core GPU on an iPhone. However, this probably has more to do with the single rear camera needing less support.

Camera and video

One of the most notable absences of the iPhone 16e is in the rear camera array. Here, you will find just a single camera, compared to the dual camera on the 16 and the triple camera on the 16 Pro models. That means that there is no ultrawide-angle lens available, which can come in handy for big group shots, landscapes, or dynamic city shots.

That said, the camera you do get is Apple’s 48MP Fusion camera, capable of giving you a 1x zoom (26mm equivalent) and a 2x zoom (52mm equivalent) from that one sensor. By default, the 1x is stored as a 24MP image, using two pixels for every one to optimise light and colour. You can also opt to save as a 12MP image here, using four pixels for every one or save the full 48MP image for the most detail.

The 2x image uses the central 12MP of the sensor, so the maximum resolution remains at 12MP for these shots. In photography terms, a 26mm and 52mm combination does cover most uses, with anything beyond that being more specialised. It certainly works for general street photography and portraits and will be more than adequate for most buyers of the iPhone 16e.

One thing you can’t question about this rear camera is the quality. I spent some time shooting with the iPhone 16e in a range of conditions, from sunny outdoor shots to dark indoor portraits and the camera held up well. When shooting at 2x zoom, the indoor images did lose a bit of detail and the effect of the anti-noise processing is clear. However, the results at 1x are noticeably better, even on the 24MP setting.

One interesting comparison was how the colour balance differed from a similar shot on the iPhone 16 Pro. The saved shot on the 16e, taken through glass, left a slightly muted and yellow tinge, while the 16 Pro seemed to better correct for this, giving a punchier and more balanced shot. Of course, all this is fixable in editing and outdoor shots looked very similar.

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The rear camera also delivers superb video, shooting at the same 4K with Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 frames per second. You also can shoot at 1080P, including slow motion at up to 240fps. What you don’t get on the 16e is the Cinematic mode, action mode or Spatial video as these rely on multiple cameras.

You do still get the Portrait mode with depth control on still images, but this is the older generation from the 15-series rather than the next-generation version. The biggest difference is that this included version doesn’t automatically record the portrait depth information without you selecting the Portrait mode.

The 12MP true-depth front camera is much the same as on the rest of the iPhone 16 series. It can also shoot video up to 4K. For video, the iPhone 16e also features the new Audio Mix features of iOS 18, which allow you to swap between standard, in-frame, studio and cinematic sound options. The results do change significantly and are handy for reducing background noise.

Apple Intelligence and iOS 18

Apple Intelligence features were first announced as part of iOS 18 last year and have been added over a series of software updates. However, only newer handsets are able to take advantage of them. According to the specs, only the A17 Pro, A18 and A18 Pro chips in iPhones were compatible, while iPads and Macs required Apple Silicon (M1 and above).

For iPhones, this meant that aside from the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, you needed a 16-series phone to use it. Thanks to its A18 chip, the iPhone 16e has become the cheapest way to access Apple Intelligence on a phone – the iPad mini A17 is a slightly cheaper option. This makes it a tempting solution for those looking to upgrade from older handsets.

So what does Apple Intelligence actually include? There are many ways that it adds to the iOS 18 experience, with new functionality being added all the time. Probably the most practical application is the writing tools. These allow you to make quick changes to text in any application with just a click or a few words. You can proofread, summarise the text or even rewrite the text completely with a range of different tones. It’s a simple way to improve your writing or ingest large documents quickly.

The Siri voice assistant has had an upgrade to make it smarter and more able to handle natural conversation. There’s still more to come on Siri’s invention, but you now have increased product knowledge and perhaps most usefully, the ability to type your requests to Siri if you’re somewhere you can’t easily speak.

Apple Intelligence is present in photo editing too, offering an image clean-up function with just a tap or a circle on the area of the image to get rid of elements. You can also search through images and create memory collections simply by searching based on descriptions of the images.

On the lighter side, Image Playground is a fun, friendly AI image generator that offers a range of suggested styles and categories to create an animation, illustration or sketch. You can select an existing photo, a person from your library or simply describe what you want to create.

In the same vein, the Genmoji function lets you create custom emojis with a text description. These can then be used in a range of messaging functions and are saved in your emoji keyboard for future use.

Visual Intelligence function is another handy feature. This allows you to search or get information based on what your phone camera can see. You can even use it as a way to save information into your phone, such as adding a calendar event from a flyer or contact information from a business card.

Battery life

Battery life is one area where the iPhone 16e really excels. It’s actually better than the standard iPhone 16, offering up to 26 hours of video playback and 90 hours of audio playback. Of course, the larger iPhone 16 Plus and the Pro models do offer a slightly better battery, but it’s still an impressive result here. Plus, without the option of an always-on display, it’s likely to last even longer in practice.

In testing, I found that with moderate usage, I could easily get two days out of the iPhone 16e before needing to charge. It would certainly last a full 24 hours, even with intensive use, making it perfect for those glued to their phone.

There is one thing that the iPhone 16e is missing that shocked me more than the lack of a second camera. For wireless charging, the phone uses the Qi standard but doesn’t include MagSafe. This means that while it will charge on MagSafe chargers, it doesn’t have the magnet ring to hold it in place. It also means that MagSafe-compatible battery packs and accessories won’t stay attached to the phone.

Qi charging is also limited to 5 watts, while the latest MagSafe devices can charge wirelessly up to 25 watts. MagSafe seems like a strange function to limit from the iPhone 16e, as it opens up a range of accessories. Though perhaps Apple believes that most 16e buyers prefer to charge through the USB-C port anyway.

Should I buy the iPhone 16e?

When the iPhone 16e was first announced, people questioned why this phone was more expensive than the outgoing SE (3rd generation), but I don’t think that’s the point. The iPhone 16e is a very different beast from the SE. As suggested in the name, this is more of a 16 lite, providing a reduced set of features but still very much part of the current range.

What this phone does, it does very well. It feels great in the hand, thanks to the superb build quality, and it's a very pleasing size – both to hold and for the screen. The addition of Face ID, the Action button and the high-resolution screen make it easy to access, while the power of the A18 chip means it’s ready for everything from video editing to gaming.

Despite having only one rear camera, it does produce some great photos and most users won’t feel restricted by its range – particularly if updating from an older model. The biggest problem is that there are lots of new handsets with a far better set of specs for less money if you are prepared to move away from Apple.

There’s also the question of whether people would rather pay the extra 200 pounds/dollars and go for the iPhone 16 to get that better camera setup, MagSafe and brighter display. I suspect many won’t, and actually, the iPhone 16e could outsell the 16. However, I would recommend doing just that for most users, especially if buying as part of a contract, where the price difference per month is likely to be minimal.

Also consider

If you want the cheapest iPhone option and the most affordable way into Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16e is a great choice. However, these should also be on your shortlist.

The iPhone 16 is only £200/$200 more than the 16e and offers several benefits. The 6.1-inch screen is brighter and features the Dynamic Island with those clever (and surprisingly useful) animations. There’s a second camera, offering an ultra-wide angle view, which also opens up Spatial photography, Macro mode and both Cinematic and Action mode for video.

I would also suggest looking for the iPhone 15 Pro as an alternative. Some networks will still offer it, and retailer stores may have them discounted. This model still gives you access to Apple Intelligence but comes with a three-camera array on the rear, including a 3x telephoto lens, a 120Hz ProMotion display with always-on lock screen and 15W MagSafe charging.