iPhone 16E Unboxing & First Look – Is It Worth It?
Apple has unveiled the iPhone 16E, and while it might appeal to general consumers, tech enthusiasts have mixed reactions. The phone features a compact design, Apple’s new C1 modem, and a 48MP Fusion camera, but lacks MagSafe and a high refresh rate display. Let’s take a closer look at its unboxing, design, battery, performance, and features.
Unboxing: What’s Inside the iPhone 16E Box?
The iPhone 16E packaging is quite minimal, typical of Apple. Here’s what you get inside the box:
✅ iPhone 16E (Black Color Variant)
✅ USB Type-C to Type-C charging cable
✅ Documentation
❌ No Adapter
❌ No Earphones
Apple continues its trend of not including an adapter, so you’ll need to purchase one separately.
Design & Build: Feels Just Like an iPhone 14?
When holding the iPhone 16E, it feels almost identical to the iPhone 14. Apple has not included the Dynamic Island, instead, it comes with a boat notch.
The black color looks better than the previous light grey dummy units, giving it a more premium finish.
Key Design Features:
- Boat notch (No Dynamic Island)
- Same in-hand feel as iPhone 14
- Extra Action Button (Compared to iPhone 15)
- Smaller camera module
Drop Test & Durability
The iPhone 16E comes with an older-generation Ceramic Shield, meaning it doesn’t have the same protection as the iPhone 16 series. A quick drop test showed that compact phones handle falls better.
Display: Still Stuck at 60Hz?
Apple has not upgraded the display significantly in the iPhone 16E. It still features a 6.1-inch screen with 1200 nits brightness, but the biggest downside is:
❌ Only 60Hz refresh rate (No 120Hz ProMotion)
Display Features:
- 6.1-inch screen
- 1200 nits brightness (Lower than iPhone 16’s 2000 nits)
- 60Hz refresh rate
While the display is decent, Apple’s decision to keep it at 60Hz feels outdated.
Battery Life: A Big Plus for Normal Users
One of the biggest advantages of the iPhone 16E is its battery life. It houses a 3961mAh battery, which, combined with a 60Hz display, offers exceptional battery performance.
📌 Apple Claims: 26 Hours of Video Playback
📌 2-4 Hours More Battery Life than the Previous Generation
However, MagSafe has been removed, and wireless charging is limited to 7.5W.
Battery & Charging:
- 3961mAh battery 🔋
- No MagSafe Support ❌
- 7.5W Wireless Charging
- Efficient C1 Modem (More Power Efficient)
Performance: A18 Bionic, But With a Catch
The iPhone 16E is powered by the A18 Bionic chip, but it has one GPU core less than the iPhone 16.
💡 Geekbench Scores:
- iPhone 16E Multi-Core: 7500
- iPhone 16 Multi-Core: 8500
However, it still offers excellent performance and now comes with 8GB RAM, allowing users to access Apple Intelligence features.
Performance Highlights:
- A18 Bionic Chip
- 8GB RAM (First Time for Base Variant)
- Storage Options: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB
- Power-Efficient C1 Modem (6nm TSMC node)
Even though it’s not the most powerful iPhone, its performance is solid for regular users.
Camera: 48MP Fusion Camera, But a Smaller Sensor
The iPhone 16E features a single 48MP Fusion camera, but it’s not the same as the one used in the iPhone 16 series. The sensor is smaller, meaning photo quality might be slightly lower.
Camera Specs:
- 48MP Fusion Camera (Smaller Sensor)
- 12MP Selfie Camera
- 4K 60FPS Recording (Front & Back)
- No Spatial Video or Cinematic Video Mode ❌
While the camera delivers good photos, it’s not as advanced as the iPhone 16 Pro.
Connectivity: No Ultra Wideband, But WiFi 6
The iPhone 16E supports WiFi 6 & Bluetooth 5.3, but it lacks Ultra Wideband (UWB), which means AirTag precision tracking won’t work as effectively.
📌 No Ultra Wideband (UWB) ❌
📌 WiFi 6 & Bluetooth 5.3 ✅
On the software side, it runs iOS 18.3, supporting Genmoji, Visual Intelligence, and Apple Intelligence.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the iPhone 16E?
The iPhone 16E was originally expected to be named iPhone SE 4, but Apple rebranded it as part of the iPhone 16 series.
It offers solid battery life, improved performance, and Apple Intelligence, but lacks MagSafe, a high refresh rate display, and Ultra Wideband support.
Pros:
✅ Excellent Battery Life (3961mAh + Efficient Modem)
✅ A18 Bionic Chip + 8GB RAM
✅ Apple Intelligence Support
✅ Face ID (Instead of Touch ID in SE Series)
Cons:
❌ 60Hz Display (No 120Hz ProMotion)
❌ No MagSafe Support
❌ No Ultra Wideband (UWB)
❌ Smaller Camera Sensor Compared to iPhone 16
Also Read :Quantum Leap in Computing, AI Pin’s Demise, and a Blast of Upcoming Smartphones
Leave a Reply