The iPhone 16e - Apple’s latest budget-friendly iPhone - officially goes on sale this Friday. Ahead of its release, tech reviewers and YouTubers have shared their early impressions.

With a starting price of $599 in the U.S., the iPhone 16e is a more affordable alternative to the $799 iPhone 16. But Apple has made some trade-offs to keep the price down, such as removing MagSafe and using a weaker GPU in its A18 chip.

So, is it worth saving $200, or should you go for the standard iPhone 16 instead?

Key specs of the iPhone 16e

Apple claims that iPhone 16e has the longest battery life among its 6.1-inch iPhones, thanks to its power-efficient C1 modem and a larger battery. It promises 26 hours of video playback, compared to 22 hours on the iPhone 16.

However, iPhone 16e does not support MagSafe and lacks an Ultra Wideband chip, meaning it cannot use Precision Finding in Find My.

Additionally, the A18 chip in the iPhone 16e has a 4-core GPU, instead of the 5-core GPU found in the iPhone 16, which may slightly affect gaming and graphics performance.

Does the C1 modem improve 5G speeds?

The iPhone 16e is Apple’s first device to use the company’s own C1 modem instead of a Qualcomm chip. Apple claims it is the most power-efficient 5G modem ever in an iPhone.

However, in real-world tests, the difference is barely noticeable.

Allison Johnson from The Verge tested FaceTime calls, YouTube streaming, and large file downloads using Verizon’s network. She found no major differences between the iPhone 16e with the C1 modem and the iPhone 16 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X71.

John Velasco from Tom’s Guide ran speed tests in New York and saw only minor improvements in one of three tests.

While Apple emphasizes battery savings, it seems that 5G speeds remain largely the same.

Does iPhone 16e have the best battery life?

Apple claims that iPhone 16e offers the longest battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone.

Tom’s Guide ran battery tests and found that iPhone 16e lasted 12 hours 41 minutes, slightly less than iPhone 16’s 12 hours 43 minutes. The best recorded times were 12 hours 49 minutes for iPhone 16e and 13 hours 19 minutes for iPhone 16.

YouTuber Dave Lee (Dave2D) confirmed that iPhone 16e has a 3,961mAh battery, 11% larger than the 3,561mAh battery in iPhone 16.

While battery life is strong, it’s not a major leap over the standard iPhone 16.

Is the A18 chip with a 4-core GPU a downgrade?

The A18 chip in iPhone 16e has one fewer GPU core than the A18 in iPhone 16. This could impact performance, especially for gaming.

Patrick Holland from CNET ran graphics tests and found a noticeable difference between iPhone 16e and iPhone 16. However, for everyday tasks, the performance remains smooth and fast.

For casual users, the difference may not be significant, but gamers might prefer the full 5-core GPU version in iPhone 16.

Is removing MagSafe a deal-breaker?

One of the biggest complaints about iPhone 16e is the lack of MagSafe.

Since iPhone 12, MagSafe has been a standard feature in all iPhones, allowing users to magnetically attach chargers, battery packs, and accessories.

Patrick Holland (CNET) notes:
"If you’ve never used MagSafe, you won’t miss it. But if your household already has MagSafe chargers, it’s annoying that you can’t use them with iPhone 16e."

Apple has not explained why MagSafe was removed, but speculation suggests that the new internal design—which accommodates the larger battery - may have been a factor.

For now, iPhone 16e is the only modern iPhone without MagSafe - a major drawback for users who rely on it.

Should you buy iPhone 16e or spend $200 more for iPhone 16?

Choose iPhone 16e ($599) if you:

Want an affordable iPhone with a modern design and A18 chip

Don’t care about MagSafe or an Ultra Wide camera

Need long battery life and a customizable Action button

Choose iPhone 16 ($799) if you:

Use MagSafe accessories like wireless chargers and battery packs

Want better graphics performance with the 5-core GPU A18 chip

Prefer Wi-Fi 7 for faster connectivity

Need an Ultra Wide camera for better landscape and group shots

The iPhone 16e is a solid budget iPhone with strong performance, great battery life, and Apple Intelligence support. However, it lacks MagSafe, an Ultra Wide camera, and has a slightly weaker GPU.

For most casual users, iPhone 16e offers great value at $599. But if you want MagSafe, better graphics, and additional camera features, the $799 iPhone 16 is worth considering.

Hai Phong