How much impact does $200 have? Here are all the important things you should consider.
Apple’s new budget-friendly phone, the iPhone 16E, comes equipped with many of the same features as the iPhone 16. However, despite being available at a price of $200 less than the base model iPhone 16, it’s important to know what features and amenities you might have to compromise on.
The iPhone 16E, which starts at $599, features the same A18 chipset, iOS 18, and Apple intelligence as the $799 iPhone 16. Pre-purchases for the phone have now begun, and it will be available in the market from February 28.
The iPhone 16E is being compared to the base model iPhone 16 on specifications such as battery life, camera quality, and AI robustness.
Both the iPhone 16E and iPhone 16 feature a 6.1-inch OLED display, which comes with a 60Hz refresh rate. However, there is a difference in the brightness of the display – the maximum brightness of the iPhone 16E is 1,200 nits, while in the iPhone 16 it reaches 2,000 nits. Both phones use a Ceramic Shield front and glass back.
In terms of design, both devices are made of aluminum and their weight is also almost the same. The iPhone 16E weighs 167 grams, while the iPhone 16 weighs 170 grams.
Both phones have an action button, but the camera control button is only available in the iPhone 16. Apart from this, the Dynamic Island feature is also limited to the iPhone 16 only. Both devices have an IP68 rating for dust and water protection.
Apple has also removed the home button in the iPhone 16E and included Face ID, just like the iPhone 16. Both phones have a USB-C port but there is no headphone jack.
In terms of color options, the iPhone 16E is only available in black and white, while the iPhone 16 comes in multiple colors like black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine.
Storage and Battery
Both the iPhone 16E and iPhone 16 are available with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. According to Apple, the iPhone 16E can provide up to 26 hours of video playback and up to 21 hours of streamed video playback, while the iPhone 16 offers up to 22 hours of video playback and up to 18 hours of streamed video playback.
One of the major reasons for the iPhone 16E’s long battery life is that it is based on Apple’s new 5G modem, the C1. The company claims that the C1 modem is “the most energy-efficient modem ever in an iPhone”, which plays a key role in extending battery life.
Both phones support 20-watt wired charging. However, in terms of wireless charging, the iPhone 16E is limited to 7.5W Qi wireless charging, while the iPhone 16 supports 15W Qi2 charging and 25W MagSafe wireless charging with an adapter of 30W or higher.
Cameras at a glance
Both the iPhone 16E and iPhone 16 feature a 48-megapixel wide camera, but the iPhone 16 also has an additional 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. To make up for the reduction in camera count, the iPhone 16E uses sensor cropping technology for 2x magnification, which offers better zoomed-in shots, just like the iPhone 16. Both phones also feature a 12-megapixel front camera.
On both devices, you can record 4K videos at 60 frames per second. However, on the iPhone 16, you can also shoot 1080p spatial videos, but this feature is only available at 30 frames per second.
Apple Intelligence for all
The biggest upgrade to Apple’s budget-friendly iPhone is the inclusion of Apple Intelligence, which was previously limited to only the iPhone 15 Pro models and the iPhone 16 lineup. Now, even at a lower price point, users can take advantage of advanced AI features like smart Siri, writing tools, and clean up tools for photo editing.
The move reflects Apple’s strategy, which is committed to making AI technology accessible to as many users as possible. It makes it clear that AI is now a core part of every iPhone, be it the cheapest model or the flagship device.
