Apple has discontinued the iPhone SE and replaced it with the iPhone 16e. Although nearly $200 more expensive than its predecessor, the iPhone 16e boasts many of the same modern features as the newer generations.
Many international news outlets have reviewed the iPhone 16e, focusing on the C1 modem and the features that were removed. Despite its powerful chip and Apple Intelligence, the starting price of $600 (17 million VND in Vietnam) may make many people hesitate when choosing Apple's latest smartphone.
A big but "invisible" change.
The C1 is seen as a major step for Apple towards technological self-reliance in the iPhone. The company claims its self-developed modem consumes less energy, helping to extend the battery life of the iPhone 16e compared to other 6.1-inch devices.
Writing in The Verge , author Allison Johnson emphasizes that Apple overcame many challenges to perfect the C1. After her experience, she admits that she didn't feel much difference in speed between the C1 (iPhone 16e) and the Snapdragon X71 (iPhone 16).
“I used my iPhone 16e last week to make FaceTime calls, upload large videos in crowded places, and watch YouTube on the bus.”
"I tested it alongside a regular iPhone 16 with a Qualcomm modem – both using the Verizon network – and didn't see a significant difference in performance between the two devices," Johnson said.
iPhone 16e with a pink case. Photo: The Verge . |
Similarly, author John Velasco from Tom's Guide also didn't notice any difference when using 5G on the iPhone 16e compared to the iPhone 16. Of course, users should note that the iPhone 16e is Apple's first device to use its own manufactured modem.
"This is a change from the Qualcomm modem that Apple has relied on for years, but it's difficult to say which modem offers higher speeds."
“I used a speed test tool with the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 at three different locations in New York, and only once did the iPhone 16 outperform the iPhone 16e,” Velasco wrote.
Apple itself acknowledges that C1 is just the beginning. The company says it will integrate its self-developed 5G modem into many other devices in the future. Based on rumors, these include the iPad 11, iPhone 17 Air, Mac computers, and the next generation of Vision Pro glasses.
Is the battery life better?
According to Apple, the C1 is the "most power-efficient modem" ever. Specifications state that the iPhone 16e offers up to 26 hours of battery life when playing offline video, the longest among 6.1-inch models.
After testing it out, Engadget editor Cherlynn Low emphasized that the iPhone 16e can be comfortably used all day.
"I unplugged the device from the charger at 10 am on Sunday, and by 10 am on Tuesday, the battery still had 60% charge after a day of testing the camera."
In reality, this is still a very new device and I use it as a secondary phone, so the battery life might be slightly shorter with more usage. However, compared to my experience reviewing another new device, the iPhone 16 Pro, the iPhone 16e is less of a concern in terms of battery life,” Low wrote.
The Visual Intelligence feature on the iPhone 16e. Photo: The Verge . |
Similarly, The Verge reported that the iPhone 16e's battery capacity remained at 41% after an outing using maps, listening to podcasts, measuring 5G speed, and watching YouTube, with the screen on for approximately 5 hours. Of course, a week-long test period is not enough to conclude on long-term battery life.
Contrary to many reviews, Tom's Guide 's closed-circuit testing revealed surprising results: the iPhone 16e's battery life was shorter than that of the iPhone 16.
The average battery life of the iPhone 16e is 12 hours and 41 minutes, 2 minutes shorter than the iPhone 16. Taking the best results, the iPhone 16e recorded 12 hours and 49 minutes, while the iPhone 16 achieved 13 hours and 19 minutes.
The test website set the screen brightness to 150 nits and ran a simulation of typical web browsing tasks on a 5G network until the battery ran out.
On the Dave2D YouTube channel , reviewer Dave Lee stated that the iPhone 16e is equipped with a 3,961 mAh battery, which is 11% higher than the regular iPhone 16 (3,561 mAh).
Major shortcomings
The iPhone 16e is equipped with the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16, but it only has 4 graphics cores (GPU) compared to 5. While that might sound like a small difference, reviews have shown a noticeable difference.
“In graphics benchmarks, you really notice the difference the additional GPU core makes to the iPhone 16 compared to the iPhone 16e. Notably, the graphics performance of the iPhone 15 also surpasses that of the iPhone 16e,” CNET writer Patrick Holland noted.
The iPhone 16e features new capabilities such as satellite communication (pictured) but lacks MagSafe. Photo: WSJ . |
Similarly, Tom's Guide 's review using 3Dmark Wild Life Original Unlimited software showed that the average frame rate of the iPhone 16e reached 71.27 fps, while the iPhone 16 was 98.23 fps. Of course, users won't notice a significant difference if they are only running basic tasks or playing games.
The A18 chip in the iPhone 16e still retains 6 CPU cores. Therefore, the Geekbench scores are quite similar, with 3,328 points (single-core) and 8,132 points (multi-core).
Besides the GPU having one core cut, another controversial shortcoming of the iPhone 16e is the lack of MagSafe magnets, which allow for the attachment of various accessories and improve grip when using wireless charging.
Regarding this drawback, author Allison Johnson from The Verge stated that those who have used MagSafe before will find it lacking. However, if upgrading from iPhone generations that do not support MagSafe, users may not need the feature.
iPhone 16e (left) and iPhone 16. Photo: The Disconnekt . |
First introduced on the iPhone 12, MagSafe allows you to attach your device to a charging dock, power bank, or accessory using magnets.
Apple has not explained the reason for removing MagSafe from the iPhone 16e, although it has stated that this is unrelated to the C1 modem. However, the product still supports Qi wireless charging, with a maximum power of 7.5 W.
“I imagine that people who don’t use iPhones with MagSafe won’t notice this shortcoming. However, if you live with someone who has MagSafe and a wireless charging pad, this could be a bit annoying,” added Patrick Holland, author from CNET .
Still "surviving" with a camera.
The iPhone 16e only has a single 48MP rear camera, almost the same specifications as the iPhone 16. Although it lacks an ultra-wide-angle lens, one camera is still sufficient for everyday use.
"This is a perfect camera system for most users," said a reviewer from The Verge .
Sharing the same view, author Eric Zeman from PCMag praised the image quality captured by the iPhone 16e.
"The photos taken with the camera during the day are very clear, sharp, and have accurate colors. I appreciate the contrast in the photos, which creates a bit of depth," Zeman wrote.
iPhone 16e's rear camera compared to iPhone 16 Pro Max. Photo: The Verge . |
According to Engadget , users will clearly notice the camera's shortcomings when needing to take portrait photos with a blurred background. This mode only works when the iPhone 16e detects a person's face in the frame. Even then, the background blur effect and details like hair and skin edges are not as good as on the iPhone 16.
Many camera modes are also absent on the iPhone 16e, such as Spatial Video, Action Video, or Cinematic Video, although macro photography is still supported.
"This is only annoying if you frequently take photos using different modes. You can be comfortable with one camera if you don't mind the lower portrait quality compared to higher-end iPhone models," added Engadget editor Cherlynn Low.
Who is the iPhone 16e for?
Overall, the iPhone 16e may or may not be a worthwhile purchase, depending on your perspective and needs.
Writing in the WSJ , author Nicole Nguyen emphasizes that users will be satisfied upgrading from the iPhone SE 2022 or an older model. However, newer, discounted models offer more value.
"In fact, for those new to iPhones or with little tech interest, the iPhone 16e is a suitable and attractive product."
"If you can't live without a second camera like I can, consider the iPhone 15, which is only $100 more expensive. Although it lacks an Action button or Apple Intelligence, I don't think many people need those," the Engadget writer added.
iPhone 16e in hand. Photo: The Shortcut . |
Similarly, Allison Johnson from The Verge emphasizes that the iPhone 16e contains everything she “loves” and “hates” about iOS. It’s a good iPhone, but some Android smartphones could surpass it at a reasonable price.
"This is Apple's cheapest smartphone, but it's not cheap in terms of 'lack of competition'."
"This is an iPhone with the typical iPhone features, but it will lack at least one feature that is important to anyone, whether it's a second camera or MagSafe. If you want to cling to the old design and need a new iPhone that's as cheap as possible, the iPhone 16e is the device to buy," Johnson emphasized.
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