The brand-new iPhone 16e has arrived, featuring an A18 chip, Apple’s inaugural cellular modem, a 48MP Fusion camera, and much more.
Here are a few highlights you may have overlooked …
Absence of MagSafe support
While the iPhone 16e enables Qi wireless charging, it does not support MagSafe. This means there are no built-in magnets for aligning with magnetic wireless chargers, so you won’t benefit from the magnetic connection offered by MagSafe and Qi2-compatible chargers. Consequently, using MagSafe accessories like mounts and wallets will not be possible.
This is a significant shortcoming, especially since flagship iPhones have included MagSafe support since the iPhone 12 was released in 2020.
Enhanced A18 GPU
Powering the iPhone 16e is the A18 chip, which is also present in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. However, there’s a key distinction: the iPhone 16 features a 5-core GPU while the iPhone 16e utilizes a 4-core GPU.
Although this might not be apparent to most users, it exemplifies Apple’s strategy to cut costs with the iPhone 16e.
Support for Visual Intelligence
The iPhone 16e fully supports Apple Intelligence features, including Visual Intelligence. On the iPhone 16 models, you activate Visual Intelligence by long-pressing the Camera Control; however, the iPhone 16e lacks this feature. Instead, you can assign Visual Intelligence to the Action button on the iPhone 16e.
This allows you to take a photo and subsequently search Google for similar images or send it to ChatGPT for further information. You can also quickly access reviews and hours for a restaurant, easily add calendar events from flyers, and identify dog breeds. Moreover, integration with Google facilitates finding product reviews and purchasing details.
Notably, the iPhone 15 Pro models, which also support Apple Intelligence and the Action button, do not include Visual Intelligence functionality.
128GB as the standard storage
As anticipated, the iPhone 16e now originates with a 128GB base storage option, signaling the end of 64GB configurations in the iPhone lineup. In a time when Apple Intelligence occupies approximately 7GB of storage, it’s commendable that Apple has doubled the starting storage.
For context, the iPhone SE 3 started at $429 with 64GB, with the 128GB variant priced at $479. In contrast, the iPhone 16e begins retail at $599 for 128GB.
True $599 starting price
Unlike Apple’s flagship devices, which impose a $30 premium when purchased without a carrier, the iPhone 16e maintains its $599 price tag regardless of carrier selection. For instance, while the iPhone 16 has a price of $799, it rises to $829 if obtained without a carrier. The iPhone 16e, however, remains consistently priced at $599.
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