When Apple announced the iPhone 16E in February, many of us surprised and wondered, “Who will buy it?” It has a single camera, which is a fine camera but not very good. It does not contain magasaf, it has old notch displays among many other things. It is also very expensive what it provides, the cost of $ 599. But there is one thing that we all have forgotten – not everyone wants all these bells and whistles.
Even for myself, as someone who was actually like SE with other cheap iPhones of apples, I was struggling to find out who this phone was for.
It was very simple when it came to the iPhone SE model. Those who still wanted a touch ID could buy iPhone SE, as the new iPhones dug it for face ID. It was also cheap, less than $ 500. But the iPhone 16E is originally the design of the iPhone 14, and is now at $ 100 more expensive at $ 599.
So, how do we know that iPhone 16E is selling so well? We do not have a solid number, but the counterpoint smartphone shipments for Q1 give us a good idea of things. For Q1, Apple managed to take the top position and also ship 4% more units in quarters, vs. Q1 2024. This is important because Q1 is usually owned by Android. With the launch of the Galaxy series, OnePlus Flagship, and all other flagship launched in the Mobile World Congress. All this is likely to be caused by the iPhone 16E, as Apple did not launch a new color of any other iPhone 16 model.
Why are people buying iPhone 16E?
The main reason people are buying iPhone 16E, this is due to the price and name. It has “16”, so many people believe that it is new, which is true. And it is also cheaper than other iPhone 16 models. Many characteristics that distinguish the iPhone 16E from other iPhone 16 models, many people see as bells and whistles that are not necessary. Just for a few names, like a telephoto and ultravide camera, or dynamic island, or magsef. Therefore, they choose the option of $ 599 iPhone on $ 799 iPhone.
This is something that we have to remember those in critics, and smartphone space. When we talk about smartphone buyers, we are minorities. Most people just want something that works, and they will keep it until it works, repeats the process.
So what do these users want? They want a phone that is not slow, and one that does not need to be charged during the day. They want to be able to put their phone on the charger at night and are 100% when they wake up. Apple gave this exactly. In fact, Google gave the same thing with Pixel 9A – at least flagship performance when it comes to the tensor.
Both Google and Apple are doing something that are not other OEMs. It is providing major performance in a budget phone. Say what you will say about Google and its tensor chipset, but this is “flagship power” for the pixel. Now with the iPhone 16E, Apple put in the A18 chipset, which is the same chipset as its $ 799 iPhone 16. However, it is missing a graphics core, which is not the end of the world, and if you put these side-by-side, I bet that you will not even see a difference.
Flagship performance means support for the coming years also
Apple pasted the A18 within the iPhone 16E, which means that it supports all the characteristics of the rest of the iPhone 16 series – including Apple Intelligence. And it will continue to get updates even for 5, 6 perhaps 7 years. Apple does not give a certain number of years “guarantee” for updates, but it usually occurs between 5 and 7 years, sometimes 8.
This means that a person can buy iPhone 16E today, and can use it for years and years from now. Without remembering any features. It also helps in improving the price/price ratio for the iPhone 16E.
Best battery performance in an iPhone
Other major factor to buy iPhone 16E is going to be battery life. Apple has said that this is the best battery life in the 6.1 -inch iPhone, and the real -world tests have proved this. A part of it is due to a 4,005mAh capacity battery, which is the largest in any non-app Max iPhone. Even the iPhone 16 Pro, which is a 6.3 -inch phone, E has a small battery. Pair the big battery with the new C1 modem that is considered very electrical efficient, and it is a masterclass in battery performance.
In battery tests, the iPhone 16E defeated every other iPhone except the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This is a big reason that so many people buy “Pro Max” models, that big battery and better battery is for life. With that big display. And now, long battery is another option for life, which is a small performance for those.
Consumers love iPhone 16e
Despite what the critics said, consumers are in love with the iPhone 16E. The market reception of this phone is out of this world for Apple. The most important for Apple, whether they were able to upgrade people to iPhone 16E from many years old iPhones. This Apple is getting more people on the intelligence platform, and is also selling more iPhones.
Consumers are praising the performance and lubrication of iOS 18 on the iPhone 16E. It is thanks to the A18 chipset, which is an incredibly powerful chipset, and it is very surprising to look into a device that it is cheap.
Many people are “recommending the iPhone 16e as iPhone for those who do not require pro model”. And it sounds very accurate. If you are deciding between iPhone 16 and 16E, I am not sure why you will go to the iPhone 16.
What is missing and why not care the most
At first glance, the characteristics that are missing here are very shining. But for most people, they do not matter. Showing that Apple was carefully carefully involving essential people, probably what is in the “E” iPhone 16E.
Apple decided not to include Magsef charging, it is likely to save costs and because it only charges on wireless at 7.5W. It also decided to stick with a camera – which is actually ultravide from the iPhone 16, but it is just a wide camera. It is capable of sensor-cropping, which also gives you 2x options. Apple also dug the UWB chip. It is used for accurate discovery of things like Airtag and I am discovered. It is a beautiful niche feature, and people using this feature already have an iPhone Pro model.
Of course, there is 60Hz argument. While 120Hz or even 90Hz would be great to look at $ 600, it was not going to happen. No, when it is a $ 800 phone that does not have a high refresh rate. And many people who will be in the market to buy iPhone 16E cannot give the difference between 60Hz and 120Hz. In fact, many people do not even know what it means. Apparently, Apple's displays are already so butter that 60Hz looks incredible on its phone and feels.
Apple launched iPhone 16E at the right time
Now, given the launch of the iPhone 16E, it is quite clear that Apple launched it at the right time. It was launched in February, which means that President Trump launched it about two months before the announcement of his tariff. So Apple was able to build and achieve the iPhone 16E units worldwide, without tariffs. It represents a cheap iPhone at a time where we are expecting the phone in the industry to increase their price. Make the iPhone 16E more competitive.
Once again, we are playing checkers and apple 3D chess playing.