Although the new entry-level iPhone looks like a wonderful deal, there are a few things to consider.
The much-anticipated iPhone 16E was recently shown by Apple. It is now the most reasonably priced smartphone in the iPhone lineup, with a starting price of $599 (up from the $429 SE). It comes with the company’s most recent A18 chipset, Apple Intelligence software capabilities, and an improved OLED display.
However, there are a few important factors to take into account if you’re thinking about upgrading from the now-discontinued iPhone SE or another smartphone, some of which aren’t immediately apparent.
- The iPhone 16E is eSIM-only (in the United States): The iPhone 16E completes Apple’s switch to eSIM-only cellular connectivity, in contrast to the iPhone SE, which allowed physical SIM cards. At least that applies to the hardware that will be offered for sale in the US; Apple continues to use a conventional nano-SIM tray in other areas. However, cellular data setup will need to be done directly on the phone for US customers. The good news is that in recent years, carriers have greatly streamlined this process.
- Farewell, Lightning: Today’s release of the iPhone 16E, which employs USB-C for wired charging and data transfer, finally puts Apple’s proprietary connector in the annals of iPhone history. (Please take note that the “Pro” iPhone is the only one with faster USB 3 performance; you will only be able to use USB 2 data speeds.)
- There’s no MagSafe: In another departure from most iPhones in recent memory, Apple is not including its magnetic connection technology in the iPhone 16E. There’s no mention of MagSafe on the phone’s tech specs page, and MagSafe is also absent in the description of the iPhone 16E’s silicone case. Wireless charging is still very much supported, but at least from the looks of it, your magnetic accessories won’t effortlessly attach to the 16E. That’s a real bummer of a cost-cutting measure. The iPhone SE never had MagSafe, but Apple made a very intentional decision to leave it out of this newer design.
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- This is the first iPhone to use Apple’s own modem: The company says its C1 modem leads to the best battery life ever in an iPhone of this size. But we still don’t know how Apple’s in-house modem will compare to Qualcomm when it comes to cellular reception, peak data speeds, and more. Stay tuned for our review of the iPhone 16E for more on this.
- 512GB will cost you: That $599 starting price is very appealing. Unfortunately, customers who need the most storage available can expect to pay quite a bit more: $300 more, to be specific. The 512GB iPhone 16E sells for $899.
- It’s got a 60Hz display:The target demographic for this phone is unlikely to care that the new low-cost iPhone has a faster refresh rate than the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. However, it’s still important to note. Fortunately, there are rumors that the iPhone 17 this year will finally use Apple’s more fluid ProMotion screens throughout the series.
- But you do get the Action Button: The customisable Action Button, which made its debut on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, has taken the position of the ring/silent option. Although you may still choose to make your phone silent, it has many other features, such as the ability to activate the Visual Intelligence feature, which is powered by the camera. The ability to instantly recognize music with Shazam by simply touching the button is still my personal favorite feature.
- The camera can’t do macro photography: The iPhone 16E’s 48-megapixel Fusion camera is undoubtedly a major upgrade over the previous model, the SE. However, macro photography is one shooting feature that purchasers will not be able to use. In contrast to prior iPhones, which use a secondary super wide lens for close-up macro photos, Apple’s most recent phone only has one camera.
This Friday marks the start of preorders for Apple’s iPhone 16E, which will be released on February 28th, one week later. Stay tuned for The Verge’s comprehensive review in the days ahead, and check out our StoryStream for even more information.
SOURCE: THE VERGE
