Apple’s newly launched iPhone 16e is meant to be a budget-friendly option and is said to be the successor to the iPhone SE 3. It aims at people who are looking to buy the latest but affordable iPhone. However, it costs Rs. 59,990, which doesn’t feel like a “budget” as expected. While the phone has a few notable improvements, including better battery life, the latest A18 chip, and the Action Button, the huge price tag raises the question: does it really justify the upgrade?
At first glance, it looks like a decent entry-level iPhone with a larger battery, improved repairability, Apple Intelligence, and a USB-C port. But when you take a closer look, it’s clear that Apple is playing a pricing trick—using the iPhone 16e to push buyers toward the more expensive iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models.
Also, see: Buy iPhone 16e
If there is a single reason to buy the iPhone 16e, it is the battery life. Apple packs a larger battery than the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, which means it should last longer between charges. Additionally, the phone lacks MagSafe, leading to slower wireless charging but also potentially reducing battery degradation over time. This phone is also said to offer the longest-lasting battery of any iPhone to date. For those who prefer to keep their phones for several years without upgrading, this could be a good reason to consider it.
But the iPhone 16e comes with serious drawbacks, particularly when you factor in its price. The previous iPhone SE 3 started at Rs. 43,990. But with the iPhone 16e jumping to Rs. 59,990, it costs more than several Android Flagships.
The iPhone 16e should be compared to the iPhone 14which was available at the same price before Apple discontinued it. When we put them side by side, the iPhone 16e loses badly. Here’s a list of features missing in the iPhone 16e.
- No MagSafe (so no magnetic accessories)
- No Ultrawide Camera
- No Macro Photography
- No Cinematic Mode for video
- No Action Mode for stabilization
- No Sensor-Shift Optical Image Stabilization
- No 15W Wireless Charging (slow wireless charging instead)
- No Ultra Wideband Chip (so no precision finding in Find My)
- No mmWave 5G Support
- No Color Options (only Black or White)
- Lower Max Brightness than the iPhone 14
The only upgrades are the USB-C port, the A18 chip, and the Action Button. But those don’t justify the missing features when the price stays the same.
It is also important to note that the iPhone 15 is currently available at Rs. 62,990. Just add Rs. 3000 more, and you can get an iPhone 15 instead of an iPhone 16e. But here’s a list of additional features you will get in the iPhone 15.
- A much better OLED display
- MagSafe support
- An Ultra-Wide Camera
- Cinematic Mode & Action Mode for videos
- Higher max brightness
- Better GPU performance
- More color options
Spending just Rs. 3000 more gives you a massively better iPhone experience. Recently, the iPhone 16 also dropped to Rs. 69,990 on Flipkart. That’s even more tempting, offering Dynamic Island, better cameras, and Wi-Fi 7 support. So keep looking at its prices to see if it again drops to less than Rs. 70000.
Buy iPhone 15 | iPhone 16
What I really think is that the iPhone 16e is not a bad phone. But it’s a terrible value at Rs. 59,990. It seems Apple has priced it higher to make the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 seem like much better deals. As of now, the iPhone 16e is too expensive for what it offers.
Instead of buying the iPhone 16e, you are better off hunting for iPhone 14 clearance sales at third-party retailers. Or just add Rs. 3000 and get the iPhone 15. It’s simply a much better deal.
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