iPhone 16e

Apple iPhone 16e AI hero
Apple
The Verdict:
The budget hero. It’s the iPhone SE we’ve been waiting for, finally looking like a modern smartphone.
Pros:
Modern all-screen design with Face ID; full support for Apple Intelligence; excellent entry-level price point.
Cons:
Uses an older camera sensor; lacks the ProMotion smoothness of the flagship iPhone 17.

In 2025, Apple made the jump from its “SE” iPhones to a new “e” model, which is meant to be a more budget-friendly alternative.

You might assume older-name phones automatically belong at the bottom of the list, but the iPhone 16e proves that Apple can make a solid, cheaper iPhone without many compromises.

With the iPhone 16e, you get a modern design, solid camera system, and enough performance to run iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence features for years to come, all at a noticeably lower price than the iPhone 17 lineup.

For someone coming from an iPhone XR, 11, or a much older device, 16e feels like a huge leap forward without the price point of a flagship device. You still get Face ID, a bright display, strong battery life, and support for all the new iOS features that matter most.

Is it as exciting as an iPhone 17 Pro? Not really. But in day-to-day use, you probably won’t notice the performance gap unless you’re pushing AAA-tier games or heavy video editing.

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