iPhone 16e: Specs, Features & What’s Missing
The iPhone 16e is the latest addition to the iPhone 16 series, and it makes its mark as the most affordable iPhone you can buy right now. With prices starting from RM2,999, it is quite a stark jump from the iPhone SE (3rd generation)’s starting price of just RM2,199. The price difference can be attributed to having double the storage and significant upgrades across the whole device. Which brings us nicely to the first topic: the specs.
iPhone 16e Specifications
| Processor | Apple A18 6-core CPU (2P + 4E) 4-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine TSMC N3E |
| Memory / Storage | 8GB LPDDR5 / up to 512GB NVMe |
| Display | Super Retina XDR Display 6.1-inch FHD+ (2532 x 1170) 60Hz OLED display True Tone, HDR, Wide color (P3) support 800 nits max, 1,200 nits peak brightness |
| Audio | Dual speaker Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus Spatial Audio playback |
| Cameras | 2-in-1 camera system Main camera (26mm eqv.) 48MP f/1.6, 1/2.55″ sensor, OIS, Hybrid Focus Pixels Digital zoom up to 10x TruDepth Camera Selfie camera (23mm eqv.) 12MP f/1.9, 1/3.6″ sensor, PDAF 4K60 ProRes (to external storage), Apple ProRAW, Photographics Styles, Deep Fusion, Photonic Engine, Smart HDR 5, HEIF, Dolby Vision, 1080p240 slow-mo |
| Connectivity | WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.3 5G NSA + SA (Apple C1 modem) Dual SIM (eSIM + nanoSIM) NFC GPS USB-C (USB 2.0, 480Mbps) |
| Software | iOS 18 |
| Battery | 3961mAh Up to 30W USB-PD PPS support Wireless charging (Qi 2-ready) |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 167g |
| Ingress Protection | IP68 Max 6m for 30 minutes |
iPhone 16e Features
Apple Intelligence in full swing on iPhone 16e!
As a member of the iPhone 16 series, the iPhone 16e supports the full suite of Apple Intelligence features: Visual Intelligence included. The iPhone 15 Pro series’ lacks Visual Intelligence, as it did not get the Camera Control key. But this lack of a Camera Control key does not limit the iPhone 16e from getting Visual Intelligence, as Apple managed to courageously include the feature by allowing users to access it via the Action Button. Guess which other phones also has the Action Button? The iPhone 15 series.
iPhone 16e first to feature Apple C1 modem
The iPhone 16e will be the first phone to debut the Apple C1, the first cellular modem designed by Apple. Apple claims to deliver breakthrough battery life, with industry-leading efficiency, so I am really quite excited to see it in action. It also supports satellite connectivity, although that’s somewhat irrelevant to us as there’s no support for such connectivity here in Malaysia. Back to the topic of efficiency, Apple is claiming that the iPhone 16e delivers the best battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone.
iPhone 16e: USB-C, Face ID
As the iPhone 16e technically replaces the iPhone SE in Apple’s lineup, it also means that Apple is no longer offering any phones with the Lightning connector (yay!) and Touch ID, but it’s also the first new iPhone since the iPhone SE series was launched to not come with MagSafe support (what?).
What’s Missing from the iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e does not have Magsafe support
Since we’re talking about that, there are a few key features that are oddly missing from the iPhone 16e. One of them is MagSafe support. This is similar to the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) but it’s really odd that Apple decided to drop support for this since the iPhone 16e is largely based on the iPhone 14. While the iPhone 16e delivers a huge leap forward for those upgrading from older iPhones, those who are reliant on MagSafe accessories like car mounts or wallets will have to get a case to use the feature. Apple seems to be taking a page out of Samsung’s playbook, with support for Qi 2 but not the alignment magnets.
No UWB support in iPhone 16e
Another feature missing from the iPhone 16e is Ultra Wide Band (UWB) support. UWB is slowly being adopted to serve as digital car keys, but iPhone 16e owners won’t be able to enjoy that even with a car that supports it. But a more current usage for it is AirTags. You know that arrow you can see in the Find My app leading you directly to your AirTag as you get closer to it? Without UWB, you won’t be able to see the arrow, and will only be able to locate the general vicinity of the AirTag via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).Even though the iPhone SE series has historically lacked UWB support, the absence of it in the iPhone 16e still leaves a bitter taste.
iPhone 16e has a watered-down 48MP camera
The iPhone 16e’s singular rear camera might look similar to the iPhone 16’s main 48MP shooter, but there are quite a few features missing in there. Firstly, the lens is stabilized instead of the sensor. Sensor-shift stabilization has been a staple of iPhones since the iPhone 13 series, so this is once again a very weird step backwards. The PDAF pixels are also not across the entire 48MP sensor in the iPhone 16e, unlike the iPhone 16. It also reverts to the iPhone 13 series’ Photographic Styles, instead of the more extensive Photographic Styles in the iPhone 16 series. Cinematic mode and Action mode are also not available in the iPhone 16e.
Neutered A18 for iPhone 16e
Last but not least, the iPhone 16e’s A18 chip is neutered. It has one GPU core less than the iPhone 16’s A18, but you do get the same CPU and NPU core counts. We can’t exactly be sure if Apple has clocked the cores slower or not, but perhaps we can stay tuned for reviews to come out.
iPhone 16e: Price & Availability in Malaysia
The iPhone 16e will be offered in just two colors: Black and White. Pricing for the iPhone 16e in Malaysia are as follows:
- iPhone 16e 128GB: RM2,999 (RM124.96/month for 24 months)
- iPhone 16e 256GB: RM3,499 (RM145.79/month for 24 months)
- iPhone 16e 512GB: RM4,499 (RM187.46/month for 24 months)
Pre-orders start this 21 February at 9PM, with general availability starting on 28 February 2025.
