At a price of ₹59,990, could the iPhone 16e be the best deal for you? Let’s find out in detail.
Design: Simple but reliable
The iPhone 16e may have a very simple design, but it feels sturdy when you hold it in your hand. It comes in just two colors—black and white. The aluminum frame and matte finish give it a premium touch, and its back panel rests on a flat surface without wobbling, which is not the case with the iPhone 16.
Yes, one thing may be a little disappointing — there is no MagSafe support. This means that if you want to use wireless charging or MagSafe accessories, you will have to resort to a third-party case.
Display: Big upgrade for SE users
If you’re coming from an older model like the iPhone SE, you’ll be really surprised by the 16e’s 6.1-inch OLED screen. It has brilliant colours, deep blacks and great contrast. With a peak brightness of 1200 nits, the screen is easily visible even under the sun.
Yes, it has a 60Hz refresh rate (while the iPhone 16 has 120Hz), but most users won’t notice the difference unless they’re shifting from a Pro model.
Performance: Fast and smooth, but a little choppy
The iPhone 16e has the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16. The only difference is that the GPU is slightly weaker. Still, with 8GB of RAM, this phone feels very nimble in everyday tasks. Apps open quickly and multitasking is absolutely smooth.
This phone is also good in terms of gaming. The game may stutter a bit on high settings, but it runs fine on medium or balanced settings. If you are a hardcore gamer, then the Pro model will probably be better for you.
Camera: Good quality, but lacks some features
It has a 48MP main camera, which is equal to the iPhone 16. But some advanced features like cinematic mode, optical zoom and action mode are missing. Due to the absence of a telephoto lens, you have to go very close to the subject to take portrait photos.
However, this camera is great for daily photography. Due to AI features, it meets the needs of common users well.
Battery: The real hero
The battery is the strongest aspect of this phone. According to Apple, it can give up to 21 hours of video playback, which is twice that of the iPhone SE. In our testing, the battery was still left after a day of heavy use. The A18 chip and the new Apple modem are the main reasons behind this battery efficiency.
Software: The magic of iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence
The iPhone 16e gets iOS 18, which includes several smart features. Such as converting notes to summaries, generating emojis, and a photo cleanup tool. There is also a new action button that you can customize to suit your needs (e.g. I have it set to open a voice memo).
To run Apple Intelligence features, 8GB of RAM and a new chip are required—which is present in it. This means that this device will support updates and AI features for many years to come.
Who is the iPhone 16e for?
If you are looking to upgrade from an older model like the iPhone 11 or SE and don’t want to spend too much, then the iPhone 16e could be the perfect option for you.
Tech-enthusiasts who are serious about premium things like high refresh rate, telephoto camera or MagSafe may find this device a bit less. But if you want a reliable and smart iPhone that fits in your budget, the 16e is perfect.
Conclusion: Is it value for money?
At a price of ₹59,990, the iPhone 16e is a balanced package. It gets things like an OLED display, A18 chip, powerful battery and AI features that make it special in its range. It may not have some flagship features, but it has everything you need to get the job done.
If you are wondering whether you should spend ₹20,000 more and buy the iPhone 16, my answer would be no, unless you really need those extra features. Otherwise, the iPhone 16e is enough.
Key specifications in brief:
Design: Aluminum body, glass back, IP68 rating
Display: 6.1″ OLED, HDR support, 1200 nits brightness
Chipset: A18 chip, 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU
Camera: 48MP main camera, 12MP front camera
Battery: 21 hours video playback
OS: iOS 18 + Apple Intelligence
Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB
Price: Starting at ₹59,990