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Whether it’s the £3,499 Vision Pro or the £7,199 Mac Pro, many of Apple’s products come with hefty price-tags.
But the tech giant delighted fans around the world this month, after releasing one of its cheapest devices yet.
The £599 iPhone 16e is the latest in Apple’s ‘budget’ smartphone line, and is the successor to the iPhone SE.
At £200 cheaper than the iPhone 16, some fans were initially concerned that the iPhone 16e would lack many of the most loved features in the flagship.
Thankfully, this isn’t the case, as MailOnline’s Science & Technology Editor, Shivali Best, found out.
Ahead of its general release this Friday, Apple kindly sent me the iPhone 16e to test, and I wasn’t disappointed.
From the Super Retina XDR display to the Action Button, the new device is impressively similar to the iPhone 16, albeit with a slightly less advanced camera.
What’s more, the battery is actually even better on the cheaper option – ideal if, like me, you’re sick of constantly having to keep your charger at hand!
The £599 iPhone 16e is the latest in Apple’s ‘budget’ smartphone line, and is the successor to the iPhone SE
Our verdict
If you’re detemined to buy an Apple device but don’t want to splash the cash, the iPhone 16e is an excellent alternative to the iPhone 16.
Several features are missing, so it really depends if these are dealbreakers for you.
Photographers might find the lack of wide angle lens an issue, while those tied to their MagSafe accessories might struggle with the lack of compatability.
And if you’re an avid gamer, you could find the notch at the top of your display distracting during epic gaming marathons.
However, for most people, the iPhone 16e is a great entry-level option that ticks most boxes.
How we test smartphones
When testing smartphones, we try them across multiple real-world settings, including the office, our homes, and out and about.
We evaluate the devices based on the quality of their hardware and software, testing everything from the camera to the battery life, design, and display.
Each smartphone goes through several days of hands-on testing, allowing us to provide an in-depth review to help consumers make informed decisions.
Why trust us
Shivali Best is the Science & Technology Editor at MailOnline and has been testing products and writing reviews for nine years. She completed a Master’s degree in Science Journalism at City University London in 2014 and previously worked at The Mirror as Deputy Science & Technology Editor.
iPhone 16e review
Display
Apple’s previous budget device, the iPhone SE (third generation), only had a 4.7-inch display thanks to the bulky home button taking room at the bottom of the device.
But Apple has ditched the home button on the iPhone 16e, making room for a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display – the same as the iPhone 16.
However, there is one clear difference between the two devices – and it’s bad news for so-called ‘notch haters’.
While many leakers predicted that Apple would move across to the pill-shaped Dynamic Island design, unfortunately this isn’t the case.
Instead, the TrueDepth camera equpiment for Face ID is housed in a notch at the top of the display.
Looking at the back of the iPhone 16e, it’s clear to see that the camera isn’t the same as the iPhone 16’s dual system. But don’t let the single lens fool you, as this is actually a two-in-one camera system
While this undoubtedly an improvement on the home button, it is a bit obstructive if you’re planning to use the device to watch full-screen movies or play games.
Camera
Looking at the back of the iPhone 16e, it’s clear to see that the camera isn’t the same as the iPhone 16’s dual system.
But don’t let the single lens fool you, as this is actually a two-in-one camera system.
The 48MP Fusion camera allows for stunning high-resolution photos, while an integrated 2x Telephoto lets you zoom in on objects while maintaining impressive detail.
However, without a second lens, you’re unable to take wide-angle photos.
If you’re a budding photographer who enjoys snapping landscapes or starry skies, this might be a dealbreaker.
But for most day-to-day snappers, the 48MP fusion camera is more than enough to fill your Instagram feed with like-worthy photos.
Battery
Where the iPhone 16e really comes into its own is with the battery, which has been ‘supersized’ by Apple.
Despite being one of Apple’s cheapest devices, the iPhone 16e has a whopping 26 hours of video playback – the best battery life in any iPhone of its size.
For comparison, the iPhone 16 only offers 22 hours of video playback, while the iPhone SE (3rd generation), had just 15 hours.
Surveys have consistently shown that battery life is the most important feature for shoppers when buying a new phone, so it’s great to see Apple really prioritising this in the iPhone 16e.
Unfortunately, while the iPhone 16e does support wireless charging, you won’t be able to use a MagSafe charger with it.
This might throw a spanner in the works if you’ve already come to rely on magnetic accessories like tripods, batteries or wallets.
Apple has waved goodbye to the silence switch in the iPhone 16e. Instead, the device has the Action Button above the volume buttons, which you can set up with custom actions including turning on the torch, recording a voice memo, or snapping a selfie
Buttons
Apple has waved goodbye to the silence switch in the iPhone 16e.
Instead, the device has the Action Button above the volume buttons, which you can set up with custom actions including turning on the torch, recording a voice memo, or snapping a selfie.
As default, this is set to toggle between ring and silence, which admittedly, is still my preferred set-up.
I’m glad to see the end of the silence swich – it was a prime spot for dust and dirt, and was always getting stuck.
The iPhone 16e does not have the new Camera Control button which Apple launched in the iPhone 16 series.
However, if you’re a photo lover, don’t panic.
You can simply set up your Action Button to open the camera, take phoots, and even switch camera settings.
The colour selection for the iPhone 16e isn’t the most inspiring, with only two options – Black or White
Colours
The colour selection for the iPhone 16e isn’t the most inspiring, with only two options – Black or White.
However, in this day and age, I don’t know many people who don’t use a phone case.
Alongside the iPhone 16e, Apple has released a range of accompanying cases in pink, green or blue, as well as black and white.
So if you’re desperate for a pop of colour, you don’t need to let the black and white iPhone 16e options hold you back.
AI tools
The iPhone 16e is built with Apple’s AI software, Apple Intelligence, which opens the door to a range of impressive tools.
Emoji fans can create custom characters with Memoji, while photographers can tweak their snaps with the Clean Up tool.
The iPhone 16e is built with Apple’s AI software, Apple Intelligence, which opens the door to a range of impressive tools
Meanwhile, users have instant access to ChatGPT, as well as the ability to type to Siri.
So, even though the hardware on the iPhone 16e isn’t as advanced as Apple’s more expensive offerings, much of the AI software remains the same.
Price
If you think of the iPhone 16e as a ‘budget’ phone, £599 is expensive by any stretch of the imagination.
Several rival companies offer signifcantly cheaper budget devices, including Samsung’s A16 (£149), and Google’s Pixel 8a (£499).
However, when you compare it to the £799 iPhone 16 – which it shares the vast majority of its features with – the iPhone 16e is pretty good value for money.
Apple Intelligence: The best features
Apple Intelligence is essentially a snazzy brand name for Apple’s new-found focus on AI, triggered by the huge success of the ChatGPT.
Here’s a look at some of the best features of Apple Intelligence, which comes to the UK via the new iOS 18.2 operating system.
ChatGPT-Siri integration
Surely the biggest part of Apple Intelligence is the integration of OpenAI’s hugely popular chatbot ChatGPT with Siri, Apple’s in-built virtual assistant.
With better ‘language-understanding capabilities’ enabled by ChatGPT, Siri will help you across multiple apps and ‘accelerate everyday tasks’, Apple said.
You’ll be able to press and hold the side button to activate Siri as normal, but with ChatGPT behind it Siri will be able to ‘answer thousands of questions about how to do something’ that it couldn’t before.
iOS 18 users will be asked before any questions are sent to ChatGPT, along with any documents or photos, and Siri then presents the answer
For example, you could say, ‘Play that podcast that Jamie recommended’ and Siri will locate and play the episode, without the user having to remember whether it was mentioned in a text or an email.
Or you could ask, ‘When is mum’s flight landing?’ and Siri will find the flight details and cross-reference them with real-time flight tracking to give an arrival time.
AI-generated emoji
If you can never quite find the emoji you’re looking for during chat conversations, Apple has the answer.
One of the more fun parts of Apple Intelligence is AI-generated emoji, which Apple has called ‘Genmoji’ (a mix of ‘generated’ and ’emoji’).
In the Messages app, you can type a short description of the emoji you want – such as ‘smiley relaxing wearing cucumbers’ or ‘squirrel DJ’.
AI-generated emoji: In the Messages app, users can type a short description (e.g. ‘smiley relaxing wearing cucumbers’) to get a unique emoji to send to someone
Similar to AI tools that just need a few words to create weird artworks, from that single prompt Genmoji returns an AI-generated approximation of what you had in mind.
If you don’t like what the AI has made for you, there are a few back-up options for you to choose from.
Clean Up
Apple’s Clean Up tool for the Photos app makes ultra-clean edits to photos – without any telltale signs that the snap has been tampered with in any way.
It lets users remove ‘distracting objects’ from the background of a photo – for example a photobomber in the background of a family snap.
Clean Up is very similar to Google’s photo-editing technology ‘Magic Eraser’ for its Pixel phones, heavily promoted in Google adverts in recent years.
The new Clean Up tool in Apple’s Photos app can identify and remove ‘distracting objects’ in the background of a photo
But the technology has been described by some as ‘Orwellian’ as it can distort reality and ‘create a false memory’.
Referring to Clean Up, one commenter said it ‘can be misused’ because it ‘makes deleting evidence easy’.
Image Playground
AI also powers a new image-generating tool called ‘Image Playground’, which is available on multiple apps, including Messages and Pages.
With Image Playground, users can create images in a few seconds, choosing from three styles – ‘animation’, ‘illustration’ and ‘sketch’.
Image Playground allows users to create fun images in seconds, choosing from three styles – Animation, Illustration and Sketch
A promo image appears to show a photo of a person being turned into a video game-style 3D avatar wearing a spacesuit in the ‘animation’ setting.
Rather like Genmoji, this ‘exciting’ image creation tool will help iPhone owners ‘communicate and express themselves in new ways’, the company says.
Movie Memories
The vast media storage capabilities of an iPhone means its always tempting to look back through your photos and video for a burst of nostalgia.
Recognizing this, Apple has come up with ‘Movie Memories’, an AI tool that creates the perfect home movie to watch on your device.
By typing a short description – for example ‘last summer in our garden’ – the AI can search your media library and and arrange photos and clips into a movie ‘with its own narrative arc’.
Movie Memories picks out the best photos and videos based on a user’s description and arranges it all into a movie with its own narrative arc
And as no movie is quite as good without a bit of music, you’ll get song suggestions from Apple Music to match the memory.
Again, Apple stresses the privacy aspect of using an AI to search through your private life.
‘As with all Apple Intelligence features, user photos and videos are kept private on device and are not shared with Apple or anyone else,’ it says.
AI writing tools
Using AI to make your writing extra concise is not a new thing – for example Microsoft’s Copilot AI is creating first drafts and suggesting edits in Word.
But now Apple is jumping on the bandwagon with its own AI-powered writing tools.
The tech will rewrite, proofread and summarize text on multiple apps, including Mail, Notes and Pages, as well as some third-party apps.
‘Whether tidying up class notes, ensuring a blog post reads just right, or making sure an email is perfectly crafted, Writing Tools help users feel more confident in their writing,’ the firm says.
