APPLE is making an attempt to tempt you with its thrifty new iPhone 16e – and I’ve already had a go.
I’ve spent a couple of week testing the brand new cell, which is at present the most affordable in Apple’s line-up.
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The iPhone 16e is a kind of non secular successor to the previous iPhone SE sequence – best-known for small, budget-friendly handsets.
However this mannequin has had an enormous makeover (and a slight value hike), and is brimming with helpful upgrades and intelligent options.
It’s a part of the iPhone 16 line-up, which launched with 4 telephones final September beginning at £799/$799.
However this new mannequin undercuts the lot with a £599/$599 price ticket.
Now long-time Apple followers will know that that’s about £180/$180 greater than the previous iPhone SE.
However Apple has clearly tried to tack on a bunch of bells and whistles to make that value really feel honest – and I reckon the job’s an excellent ‘un.
So, what’s new?
iPhone 16e – the surface
The Dwelling button is gone. That’s the massive shock.
Or it is going to be for some customers who had been utilizing the previous iPhone SE.
In fact Apple ditched the Dwelling button on its primary smartphones again with 2017’s iPhone X. So for some – myself included – it’s a distant reminiscence.
PROS AND CONS AT A GLANCE
Execs:
Cons:
No MagSafe chargingOnly two colors
We had some good instances with the Dwelling button, however it’s been sensibly culled.
A lot more room is freed up, permitting Apple to squeeze in a beneficiant 6.1-inch show.
Notice: the show is a beautiful OLED panel.
Normally screens use an LED backlight to light up the crystals that make up your show, displaying a picture.
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However OLED panels have self-illuminating pixels, and don’t want an enormous backlight operating continually.
That is higher for battery life, however it additionally means particular person pixels will be switched off to point out true black.
So you find yourself with improved distinction and a wider vary of colors.
It appears to be like beautiful, and it’s an honest win on an iPhone at this value level.
IPHONE SCREEN SIZES – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
This is how iPhone display sizes have modified over time – as measured in inches diagonally from nook to nook…
Image Credit score: Apple / The Solar
Anyway, again to the Dwelling button.
It’s possible you’ll do not forget that it used to accommodate the Contact ID fingerprint scanner.
Nicely that’s gone too, changed with a Face ID sensor that scans your mug. It’s simpler, quicker, and the lasers that make it received’t have extra makes use of than simply unlocking your iPhone.
So, that’s two ticks.
Apple has additionally binned the previous Lightning port that first appeared with the iPhone 5. (Bear in mind the previous 30-pin connector earlier than that? Ugh.)
Now we’ve acquired USB-C, according to the primary iPhone sequence – and nearly each different trendy gadget.
It’s a flexible cable that doesn’t simply belong to Apple.
You’ll discover it on MacBooks and iPads, in vehicles and resort rooms, and even on Android telephones and Home windows laptops. We actually are within the future.
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Additionally useless is the previous Mute swap close to the amount buttons.
I admire that I’m am itemizing off issues which have been killed, which could sound dangerous. However these are all extraordinarily welcome upgrades.
The Mute swap has been changed with an Motion Button, which was first seen on 2023’s iPhone 15 Professional.
You should use it for switching between ring and silent, certain. However it could additionally open your digital camera, activate the torch, or do one thing else solely. Your alternative. Significantly better.
The iPhone 16e is available in two colors: white and black.
They’re secure, well-liked choices that get a good improve courtesy of a matte end that appears nice. I’ve been utilizing the white one and it’s lovely. It jogs my memory a little bit of meringue.
Anyway, this tasty iPhone can be very light-weight. If you happen to’ve ever used a Professional Max system, this looks like lifting up a feather.
The very last thing to notice on the iPhone’s outdoors is the digital camera.
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There’s only one, however it’s truly two. Kind of.
You’ve acquired a 48-megapixel digital camera that takes pretty and spectacular snaps – and appears to fare effectively even in garbage lighting.
However Apple has additionally made it in order that the center 12 megapixels of the digital camera can be utilized as a telephoto digital camera. This provides you a helpful 2x zoom.
And the 2x zoom even works on Portrait mode, so you’ll be able to take these pretty photos the place the topic is sharp and set towards a delicate focus.
In contrast, the previous iPhone SE used computational fakery to create this impact.
The digital camera can be very succesful at recording video.
It may handle 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient footage at as much as 60 frames per second.
And it could even ship Full HD slow-motion video at 240 frames per second.
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I all the time suppose video seize doesn’t get sufficient appreciation on iPhone.
That is an unbelievable digital camera squeezed into a comparatively small and low cost system. And within the video period we now all stay in, it does a superb job.
Higher nonetheless, you’ll now have a beautiful OLED display to look at them on. It’d even be higher than your front room telly when you haven’t upgraded in a couple of years.
iPhone 16e – the within
This looks like an excellent level to speak about what’s powering the iPhone. The innards.
It’s delivery with the A18 chip, which gadget followers will know is identical Apple processor inside final 12 months’s iPhone 16.
That is a particularly highly effective processor that may simply fulfill your wants.
It’s probably not a query of does the iPhone run easily. It does, and has for years.
One particular perk is that you simply get entry to Apple intelligence – watch our unique Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner interview to seek out out extra about that.
APPLE INTELLIGENCE – WHICH DEVICES CAN USE IT?
This is the official checklist of Apple units with processors highly effective sufficient to help the brand new Apple Intelligence options…
Image Credit score: Apple / The Solar
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Even 2023’s iPhone 15 doesn’t get that.
Which means you’ll be able to create your personal ‘Genmoji’ emoji, take away undesirable objects from pictures, let the iPhone make it easier to write, and rapidly skim summaries of your notifications.
There’s probably not one killer function, however all of them add as much as a pleasant improve that tens of millions of older (and dearer) fashions miss out on.
It additionally means this iPhone mannequin is pretty future-proofed, because it’s on the fitting facet of Apple’s huge AI transition.
And it’s a strong sufficient chip that it’ll preserve your iOS and apps trucking for a few years to return.
There are three storage choices out there: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB.
You’ll pay additional to the tune of £100/$100 or £300/$300, relying on the improve you decide.
Some individuals will get on simply wonderful with 128GB. It’s not sufficient for me, however I’m a file and app hoarder. Very grasping.
TOP APPLE INTELLIGENCE TRICKS TO TRY
As soon as you’ve got up to date to Apple Intelligence, attempt these out…
Genmoji
Open the emoji panel in your keyboard, then faucet the smiley face icon with a plus image on it.
Then enter an outline for the Genmoji that you simply wish to create, faucet Achieved, then faucet Add on the Genmoji that you simply wish to use.
Mail Summaries
Go to the Mail app and faucet on an e-mail.
Then simply faucet the brand new Summarise button.
Clear Up
Go into Pictures, choose a picture, then faucet the Edit button (it has three sliders as an icon).
Now faucet on Clear Up, then faucet, brush, or circle the thing or individual that you simply wish to take away.
When you’re pleased, hit Achieved and your modifications will likely be saved.
Picture Playground
You may discover this function inside the brand new Picture Playground app.
You may both create a picture from an idea (like a theme or place), an outline, or impressed by an individual in your photograph library.
When you’re pleased with the picture, faucet Achieved to reserve it to your gallery.
Good Reply
Go to the Messages app, faucet on a dialog, then press the textual content subject.
A steered reply may then seem – after which Apple Intelligence will draft it for you.
If you happen to prefer it, ship it!
To see when you’ve acquired an iPhone replace ready, simply go to Settings > Common > Software program Replace.
Image Credit score: Apple
If you wish to hold on to this iPhone for a very long time, I’d suggest springing for the 256GB model. It’s barely pricier, however you’ll really feel safer – and the resale worth must be greater too.
There’s additionally a model new modem inside.
That’s the bit that lets your iPhone converse to the web.
Apple has lastly constructed its personal modem (after utilizing Qualcomm chips for years) known as the C1.
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The technical particulars aren’t massively helpful to informal gadget followers, however the primary takeaways are that it helps nippy 5G speeds and is 25% extra power-efficient.
Which means Apple has been capable of dole out higher battery life.
Apple’s official figures promise a whopping 26 hours of video playback.
That’s much more than the 22 hours promised by the dearer iPhone 16.
I’ve been getting by full days simply, solely charging in a single day.
With cautious utilization and a little bit of Low Energy Mode, I reckon you may most likely get two days out of it.
It helps quick charging (to 50% in half-hour) you probably have your USB-C cable plugged right into a 20W adapter.
And it’ll additionally work with wi-fi chargers that use the Qi commonplace – and most of them do.
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The one actual charging draw back is that there’s no built-in MagSafe.
Which means you’re restricted to 7.5W speeds with wi-fi charging, and it received’t magnetically connect to MagSafe chargers.
However for most individuals, that may make hardly any distinction in any respect.
If you happen to’re a MagSafe fan and have a StandBy-friendly stand that retains your iPhone hovering in mid-air, you’ll be a lot happier with the iPhone 16.
Do you have to purchase the iPhone 16e?
Apple has killed off the entire dangerous bits of the iPhone SE, and breathed recent life into the finances iPhone.
It’s a phoenix rising from the ashes.
You’ve acquired USB-C charging, the tempting Motion Button, Face ID (lastly), an AI-friendly chip, and phenomenal battery life.
It appears to be like nice, the digital camera is sensible and impact, and the display is gorgeous.
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If you happen to can overlook a few minor niggles (lack of MagSafe and a value improve) you then’ll have the ability to bag one of many best-value smartphones out there as we speak.
And if you need extra out of your Apple cell, you’ve acquired the common iPhone 16 and the Professional fashions up for grabs too.
The Solar says: Apple has packed all of the bits you really want into an iPhone at a genuinely tempting value – and it’ll final for years to return. The killer function? It needs to be the battery life.
The iPhone 16e begins at £599 / $599 and is accessible for pre-order now – with an official launch date of Friday, February 28.
