The iPhone 16e is all set to be here, and it’s an interesting option for those looking for an affordable entry into Apple’s latest lineup. It was widely anticipated that the iPhone 16e would be a spiritual follow-up to the last model, i.e. iPhone SE 3, it’s rather a more affordable variant of the iPhone 16 series. With pre-orders expiring today and the phone available for sale from tomorrow, February 28-in fact, the question here is, should you buy it? Let’s go through four reasons why the iPhone 16e might be worth your money and one reason why it might not.
iPhone 16e: 4 Reasons To Buy
Modern and New Design
The iPhone 16e has broken away from the iPhone SE 3’s retro looks.
Those fat bezels and home button are no more. The 16e has a stylish, contemporary look with a 6.1-inch screen and a Face ID notch. The flat aluminium frame provides a high-end look, and the IP68 dust and water resistance rating is an improvement over the SE 3’s IP67 rating. Although the colour choices are only black and white, the design overall makes the iPhone 16e seem like a much more modern device. Strong performance Inside, the iPhone 16e uses the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16, providing first-class performance.
With 8GB of RAM and a 4-core GPU, this phone can do it all from routine tasks to graphics-intensive games without sweating.
But the real standout is the battery life. Apple claims up to 26 hours of video playback, a huge improvement over the 15 hours offered by the iPhone SE 3. This is thanks to the A18 chip and Apple’s first in-house 5G modem, the C1, which boost efficiency and extend battery life.
Apple Intelligence Features
The iPhone 16e is also deeply integrated with Apple’s AI-centric features, the Apple Intelligence. This will result in the phone getting updates and enhancements in years to come and staying current longer than the last model. A highlight of its features is the Visual Intelligence feature, which allows you to gain information on objects using the camera. While this was initially meant to be exclusive to the iPhone 16’s Camera Control button, Apple has added it to the Action Button on the iPhone 16e. The Action Button
Another significant enhancement is the inclusion of the Action Button, which debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro variants. It replaces the legacy mute switch and lets you personalize shortcuts for instant access to something like the camera, flashlight, or Visual Intelligence. While it does not include the dedicated Camera Control button of the iPhone 16, the Action Button still brings significant functionality and convenience.
iPhone 16e: 1 Reason to Miss
Price Could Have Been Better
Even with all its positives, the Rs 59,900 starting price of the iPhone 16e may make some customers think twice. Though it’s loaded with awesome features, it omits a second camera lens and doesn’t have support for MagSafe accessories. And more importantly, the price gap between the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16 isn’t as large as it should be. The iPhone 16, which offers significantly more features, has been available for as low as Rs 65,000 during sales. At the time of writing, the best price for the iPhone 16 is Rs 70,900 on Blinkit. With the iPhone 17 series expected to launch in less than six months, the iPhone 16 is likely to see more discounts, making it an even better value proposition.
If the price difference between the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16 narrows to around Rs 5,000, it might be worth spending a little extra for the iPhone 16. A starting price of Rs 50,000 for the iPhone 16e would’ve made it a much more compelling option. For now, it’s a solid phone, but it might be worth waiting for a price drop or considering the iPhone 16 if you can stretch your budget.
