Get a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro for around the same price
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 16e Reviews: Is It Worth $599?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I find the 16e to be a pretty good entry iPhone value at $599 versus the comparatively much smaller and archaic SE. Based on how Apple typically prices iPhones, the increased storage (+$50) and size (+$100) over the SE alone would bring the price to $579. For just $20 more (bringing the price to $599), there are quite a few new or upgraded features with the 16e including increased RAM, better camera setup, better chip, better modem, better battery, increased max brightness, super retina XDR display, Apple Intelligence, emergency SOS via satellite, roadside assistance via satellite, Messages via satellite, crash detection, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, ceramic shield, greater water resistance, etc.
MagSafe is a preference many want to use with their phone and that is fine. Not everyone uses the phone the same way. That doesn't change the fact that the phone can be functionally be used by many people who have no desire to use MagSafe.
wifi 7, 0.5 zoom, spatial videos, macro photography, action mode, cinematic mode, better portrait mode, next gen photographic styles, an extra gpu core, Dynamic Island which shows lives activities 24h/24h, display has more bits and less bits (down to 1 not), new gen MagSafe (iPhone 16e doesn’t even have MagSafe) and a ultra wide band chip for localize AirTags or iPhone people with precision (maybe I miss something) You have c1 chip and 4h extra of battery but honestly I wouldn’t care (22 is enough) too bad… anyways I would always recommend the pro because the camera is very good, display and more
Pretty expensive for that.
Considering the specs and features, this 16e should be $499, not $599.
Oh, absolutely! MagSafe is just a preference, just like wireless charging, Face ID, OLED, dual cameras, and 5G—none of them are actual "requirements."
In fact, by that logic, Bluetooth isn't a requirement either. Plenty of people don’t use wireless earbuds, so maybe we should remove Bluetooth from the iPhone too? Wouldn’t that be fine?
And while we’re at it, maybe Apple should stop including cameras—not everyone uses their phone for photography, right? Some people just use their phone for calls and messages.
I don't want the multi-camera weight or bump and that matters most. I am aware of the entire list of differences.
Anyways I know some people will buy it but I think apple will lose a lot of sales.
After seeing the review reactions, I can understand why Apple wanted to sort of "bury this" on a Wednesday night
I am not suggesting Apple get rid of features. I am stating outright that MR doesn't represent the whole. And just because you don't see valued use from the 16e at $599, doesn't mean that many others won't see value and make the purchase.
I also think the majority of noise here on MR is from people who weren't going to buy the 16e in the first place and just enjoy tearing down a product that doesn't meet personal preference or public perception here on MR.
It’s not free. You’re just paying for it in instalments as part of your carrier contract. It usually works out more expensive in the end doing it that way.
I think people are missing the point saying that this phone isn't worth $599, and instead should be asking "is the 16 worth $200 more?" For me, I was gonna upgrade to something before summer this year anyway, so saving $200 for features I don't have currently and therefore won't really miss (MagSafe, ultra wideband, faster 5G...) seems worth it to me coming from a 2nd gen SE. I wish the phone was smaller physically, but it seems that everyone is against reasonable phones these days, so I guess I'll have to deal with it, like I had to with my current SE. 
I do wish it came in fun colors though. But the regular 16 doesn't have any colors that really speak to me anyway, so I guess it's not a huge deal. White seems good.
I do wish it came in fun colors though. But the regular 16 doesn't have any colors that really speak to me anyway, so I guess it's not a huge deal. White seems good.
My parents need to upgrade their iPhones. This phone would be perfect for them. Plus I can get 2 of these for less than 1 16 Pro Max 256 in Australia. They need all the bells and whistles but this has enough I think. Price. Well Apple is not trying to compete with Android. I just think this is a phone for iPhone upgrades who do not need the greatest of the lineup.
Interesting that most are comparing this new 16e to the 16. I'm looking at the 16e as the successor to the previous entry level iPhone...the SE.
With an equivalent 128gb of storage the SE listed for 120 USD less than the 16e.
I think the 16e justifies the additional cost by having a larger and much nicer display, Face ID, modern smartphone design, faster A18 chip with double the amount of RAM, larger battery for much longer endurance, Apple Inteligence, and, much better front/rear cameras.
No doubt there will be carrier deals in the US that will bring the 16e's price down. Sure, one can shop for secondhand and/or refurbished 15 Pros, but, there are many people that have zero interest in going that route.
With an equivalent 128gb of storage the SE listed for 120 USD less than the 16e.
I think the 16e justifies the additional cost by having a larger and much nicer display, Face ID, modern smartphone design, faster A18 chip with double the amount of RAM, larger battery for much longer endurance, Apple Inteligence, and, much better front/rear cameras.
No doubt there will be carrier deals in the US that will bring the 16e's price down. Sure, one can shop for secondhand and/or refurbished 15 Pros, but, there are many people that have zero interest in going that route.
So basically, less functional than my fully paid off 14.
Got it.
Oof, Apple. Big Oof.
Got it.
Oof, Apple. Big Oof.
I stated here on MacRumors last week that the lack of MagSafe is off brand. Apple did a good job of making it seem like a core feature. But I suspect the cost is more than a "few cents" that I've seen thrown around. I'm not aware of any Android phone with magnets, including the new Samsung S25 flagship phones. This is what leads me to believe that adding MagSafe would have cut too far into Apple's target gross margin for the iPhone 16e.
Last edited:
It is the entry level to the brand (iPhone), period!
Last edited:
That may be but even with 4 cores it gives better metal graphics than A16 with 5 cores ( and of course ray tracing and everything else the A18’s GPU benefits over the A16)😊
This may just be a conspiracy thought, but I was wondering why Apple didn’t use the latest Qualcomm X75 (or X80) modem in the iPhone 16 series last year, something that is usually updated every year. Now it makes sense – when doing benchmark tests against the C1 modem, the speeds don’t show as much of a difference as they would have with the newer Qualcomm modem.
Yeah, I think Apple made a mistake in calling this the 16e, instead of continuing with the “SE” branding. Adding “16” to the name makes many people automatically compare every one of its features, or lack of them, to the features of the 16 series, rather than seeing it how Apple is positioning it: as an SE with several major feature upgrades, but not all. The SE never had Magsafe, the ultra wideband chip, etc., so the 16e isn't a "real" 16, but instead it's an upgraded version of the SE, with several of the same features missing as were missing in the SE. Prior buyers of the SE series knew about its reduced feature set when they bought it.
I think the list price should have been no higher than $549, but many people will achieve that price and better through carrier deals, sales, being issued the 16e by their workplace, etc.
Last edited:
Most of features you have listed doesn’t matter to a regular non-techie buyer who all what want is to have a cell phone made by the best and fancy brand, and an Apple logo in the back of its phone.
Last edited:
Bingo! You finally have understood who for is the 16e. Thank you!