For the longest time I was excited about the release of the iPhone 16e, or as it was originally named, the iPhone SE 4. Well, Apple finally revealed the device in all its glory, and I don't think I'll be recommending it.
First, a bit of quick history if you have no idea what I'm talking about. For the longest time, Apple kept to only making iPhones sequentially. However, Apple eventually realized there was a market for an affordable option and started the SE series in 2016, with the last being the iPhone SE (2022).
The next in line was the rumored iPhone SE 2024, and there was a lot of buzz about the phone. However, when it was finally announced it was clear that Apple had fully dropped the SE brand. This is not a direct replacement for the iPhone SE; think of it more of as slightly cheaper brother of the iPhone 16.
So what is the reason for this general dislike, is it just a lack of features or is it something more? Well, let's delve into the phone to see why this is the least excited I've been for a new iPhone in a while.
iPhone 16e: What do I like about the phone?
Now, it wouldn't be fair to just start hating on the phone without first acknowledging what Apple has done right. Firstly, there’s no doubt that the iPhone 16e has some great features, mainly the inclusion of the A18 chip and more RAM.
The problem is that a device needs at least 8GB of RAM to make use of Apple Intelligence, which means that any phone older than the iPhone 15 Pro loses access to the feature.
So it wasn't a surprise to see that Apple launched the iPhone 16e with 8GB of RAM, as well as full Apple Intelligence support. I honestly expected Apple to hold back on at least some features for the new phone, but it seems everything is on the table.
This is great news for consumers, especially for those looking to explore Apple Intelligence for $200 less than it costs to buy a new iPhone 16.
iPhone 16e: What are the main issues
The new iPhone 16e is missing a lot of features versus the regular iPhone 16.
For one, it doesn't feature the Camera Control button, instead, it has the iPhone 15's Action Button. Now, this might be a bit more personal, but I don't like the Action Button. I've always seen it as an overly complex silent mode toggle that you might consider changing the function of but likely won't.
The iPhone 16e also doesn't have the Dynamic Island seen in modern iPhones, instead, it uses the same notch seen in the iPhone 14.
The iPhone 16e has just a single camera compared to the regular iPhone 16, so you don't get an ultrawide option. And there's no macro mode either.
Finally, and worst of all, there's no MagSafe on the iPhone. This is weird because MagSafe has been a part of the iPhone range since the iPhone 12. It is such an odd thing to remove given how handy MagSafe chargers and other accessories have become.
iPhone 16e: All of this has tempered my excitement
There was a lot to love about the iPhone SE 4 in concept, mainly the idea of having access to some great features while sacrificing some hardware. To my mind, the idea of the phone basically being an AI-capable iPhone 14 was a great one, but somewhere along the line Apple has made a strange missmash of a device.
Why make the phone so similar to the iPhone 15, then stick what looks like an iPhone 14 display in so that you're stuck with the notch? Why include an Action button but not include MagSafe charging?
Now, I should be fair and say that there is still a fair amount we don't know about the iPhone 16e's performance. Not only that, there is little doubt that there will likely be bigger iPhone 16e discounts when the iPhone 17 is finally released.
However, for the time being, I'll go back to wishing for the iPhone SE 4 that was rumored before, the one that would undoubtedly have been one of the best cheap phones.
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