Apple's new budget iPhone packs premium features, but some are missing to keep it under $599.
The Apple iPhone 16e is now available for preorder, starting at $599. This new phone launches Friday, February 28th, and its attractive $600 price point makes it a whopping $200 less than the iPhone 16. The iPhone 16e boasts many of the higher-priced model’s key features, including the A18 chip, a 48-megapixel main camera, iOS 18, Apple Intelligence, and access to Apple services such as FaceTime, iMessage, and Emergency SOS via Satellite.
So what’s missing? Let’s dive in.
MagSafe
MagSafe has become a popular feature for iPhone owners, so its absence on the iPhone 16e is quite surprising. Debuting in 2020 with the iPhone 12, MagSafe uses magnets for optimized wireless charging and attaching accessories like wallets or battery packs, as well as securing the phone to mounts.
While the iPhone 16 offers 25W MagSafe wireless charging, the 16e only supports 7.5W wireless charging—the original Qi standard, missing even the faster 15W Qi2.
Ultrawide & Macro Camera
The iPhone 16e sports something you don’t see much these days: just one rear camera. This 16e’s main camera packs a 48-megapixel sensor. That’s enough resolution to let us digitally zoom in 2x—think of it as a sort of stand-in for a second camera.
That ultrawide also doubles as a macro camera for super close-up shots. It’s not quite the same, though. We do miss out on a dedicated ultrawide lens, which the iPhone 16 has.
Dynamic Island
The iPhone 16e misses out on the Dynamic Island, and brought back the notch—that little cutout at the top of the screen where the selfie camera and Face ID live.
The 16e will show alerts. However, we will not be able to expand activity for more detail or swipe between activities like the Dynamic Island offers.
Color Options
If you’re looking for a colorful option, you’ll be disappointed. The iPhone 16e only comes in two color options: black and white.
Apple does offer a range of colorful cases for the iPhone 16e, which includes Winter Blue, Fuschia, Lake Green, Black, and White.
Other Missing Features
- 5G Modem: iPhone 16e uses Apple’s C1 modem, which improves battery life but lacks support for faster mmWave 5G.
- GPU: The 16e’s A18 chip has one less GPU core than the iPhone 16, potentially impacting graphics-intensive gaming.
- Camera Control: The 16e omits the Camera Control button (and Visual Intelligence search trigger), likely due to its single-camera design. Visual Intelligence search is available via the Action button.
- Connectivity: The 16e lacks ultra-wideband (for AirTag Precision Tracking), Wi-Fi 6E/7, and Thread support (for some smart home devices).
- Video Features: The 16e’s camera lacks Action mode (video stabilization), Cinematic mode (shallow depth of field), and Spatial video recording.
- Other: The 16e has older Photographic Styles, Portrait mode without post-capture focus adjustment, and a less durable Ceramic Shield display.
A Budget-Friendly iPhone with Trade-offs
Apple faced decisions to maintain the iPhone 16e’s $600 price which showcases many essential iPhone 16 features but required trade-offs.
The 16e model omits MagSafe and Dynamic Island features while possessing a marginally weaker graphics chip along with a more basic camera configuration. The significance of these missing pieces varies based on individual phone preferences. The iPhone 16 stands out as a preferable choice for tech enthusiasts focused on cutting-edge connectivity features alongside video and photography advancements.
Should you seek an exceptional iPhone experience without paying premium prices, considering the 16e becomes a worthwhile consideration.
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