Reviewers LikedJust as powerful as the iPhone 16Works with Apple Intelligence (if you care)Sharp OLED screenUSB-C portNew C1 chipAction buttonReviewers Didn't LikeScreen is not as bright as the iPhone 16Questionable valueNo mmWave 5G, Ultra Wideband, or Wi-Fi 7$599 price is premium for a 'budget' phoneNo ultrawideThe notch is back2x zoom is just a cropLacks MagSafeCompetitors and Related Products Our editors hand-pick related products using a variety of criteria: direct competitors targeting the same market segment, or devices that are similar in size, performance, or feature sets. Expert reviews and ratings 90 Forget the iPhone SE; the iPhone 16e represents a whole new class of affordable iPhone. It has an excellent screen, powerful performance, a cutting-edge CPU with Apple Intelligence, and even an all-new C1 modem chip. It's also a bit of a frustrating conundrum. Apple has raised the price to the point where it's almost out of budget range, but is hasn't add a second camera, and it's brought back the notch. Ultimately, this is another great iPhone but it may not be the best choice if you're looking for a 'budget' phone. By TechRadar on February 26, 2025 80 The iPhone 16e gracefully fulfills its role as the most affordable member of Apple's iPhone family without compromising the core experience. By PCMag on February 26, 2025 77 The iPhone 16e is the most affordable entry into Apple Intelligence and the rest of the companys ecosystem, and is a solid option for anyone who doesnt care very much about smartphone photography. By Engadget on February 26, 2025 80 You'll pay more for the cheapest model in Apple's lineup, but the iPhone 16e is a marked upgrade over the iPhone SE 2022. In fact, it has a lot in common with the standard iPhone 16, complete with a gorgeous OLED screen, A18 chip, Apple Intelligence features, and the new C1 modem. By Tom's Guide on February 26, 2025 70 The 16E feels like it should offer the essentials, but its hard to say whats an essential iPhone feature and whats not. Its probably more like a combination of features, and for some people, the 16E likely offers a combination theyll be happy with. By The Verge on February 26, 2025 70 This is why the iPhone lineup is a little confusing. Apple sells the standard iPhone 15 for $699, and it has many of those perks (plus more), but it doesn't have Apple Intelligence supportand you know that as the years go on, more features will be siloed into Apple Intelligence versus iOS. Your options might also be a little limited in the used market if you want the convenience of USB-C, since that only debuted on the iPhone 15 series. By Wired on February 26, 2025 85 $600 is a lot of money, at least for me, but I think the iPhone 16E is worth it. I do recommend looking into carrier deals, discounts and trade-ins to drop that price a bit, unless you're set on doing an installment plan over a couple of years. Even if Apple made a version of this phone that's closer to $500, it would have had to omit or compromise on more features. I wonder how the iPhone 16E's value will look in the fall when the iPhone 17 is released and there's all the deals and discounts for it. By cnet on February 26, 2025 80 The iPhone 16e may not be capable of capturing objects from far away or come in a spectrum of neat colors. Nor does it sync up with the vast offering of MagSafe accessories and devices. Otherwise, its everything you need to lock into the ecosystem and start buying other Apple accessories and subscribing to services. The iPhone 16e is the gateway drug. By Gizmodo on February 26, 2025 In the end, theres surprisingly little daylight between the iPhone 16 and 16e. It prioritizes Apple Intelligence through the inclusion of the A18 and 8GB of RAM. The handset makes sacrifices in the name of affordability, like MagSafe, Dynamic Island, Camera Control, and the dual-camera system. If you can live without all those, by all means, save yourself the $200. By TechCrunch on February 26, 2025 While I love and respect the innovation and boundaries being pushed by the premium iPhone 16 range, you cant help but respect just how much has been jammed into this iPhone 16e. By EFTM on February 26, 2025Load More Reviews