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5 Reasons You Should Skip the iPhone 16E

A "Budget" Phone That Barely Feels Budget

By Cedric Douglas Published 11 months ago 3 min read
AI Generated Image of an Iphone 16e

Apple just dropped the iPhone 16E, branding it as an affordable alternative to its pricier siblings. But let’s be honest—$599 isn’t exactly a steal, especially when you take a closer look at what this phone is missing.

Sure, it has a bigger screen, a modern OLED display, and a 48MP camera upgrade, but dig beneath the surface, and you’ll find a device that’s been surgically stripped of features most iPhone users now take for granted. Before you commit, here are five compelling reasons to hold onto your cash.

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1. The Price Feels More Like a Trap Than a Bargain

Remember when Apple’s budget phones actually felt budget-friendly? Those days are over.

The iPhone SE 3 was a $429 gateway into iOS. The 16E? A jarring $599 entry fee—an extra $170 for what? A bigger screen and some AI perks? It’s not just a price bump; it’s a quietly calculated move. Apple axed the iPhone SE 3, the iPhone 14, and the 14 Plus, leaving buyers with fewer affordable options.

Meanwhile, the Google Pixel 9a is lurking in the shadows, rumored to hit shelves at $499 or less, likely packing superior AI and camera tech. Even a refurbished iPhone 14 (which includes MagSafe and a better display) suddenly looks like a smarter buy.

If affordability was the goal, Apple missed the mark.

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2. Too Many Features Vanished Without a Trace

Apple loves to talk about “refinements,” but the iPhone 16E feels more like an experiment in subtraction.

•MagSafe? Gone. No snap-on chargers, no cool magnetic accessories.

•Dynamic Island? Nowhere to be found. The outdated notch remains.

•Camera Control button? Missing. Every other iPhone 16 model has it.

•Ultra-Wideband (U1 chip)? Skipped. No precision tracking for your AirTags.

•StandBy mode? Sorry, not for you.

It’s almost as if Apple designed the 16E by listing everything people love about iPhones—and then crossing half of it out.

If you’re expecting a modern iPhone experience, this one comes with serious asterisks.

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3. Performance That’s Been Quietly Downgraded

Apple boasts that the iPhone 16E has the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16. Technically, that’s true. But there’s a sneaky detail they’d rather you not notice.

The GPU has been cut down to four cores instead of five, slashing graphics performance by around 15%. That means:

•Gaming? Less fluid, especially with high-end graphics.

•Video editing? A step behind other A18-powered devices.

•Apple Intelligence? Might not run as smoothly as advertised.

It’s like buying a sports car, only to discover that one of the cylinders has been quietly disabled.

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4. The Camera Upgrade is not that Impressive

Apple will convince you that the iPhone 16E 48MP camera is a massive upgrade, but let’s break it down.

•No ultra-wide lens – Say goodbye to expansive landscape shots.

•No real optical zoom – The so-called “2x telephoto” is just a digital crop.

•No Cinematic Mode – No artsy, blurred-background videos.

•No Action Mode – Shaky hands? You’re on your own.

At its core, the 16E has one single rear camera, and that’s a huge step back from every other iPhone in the lineup. For a $600 phone, that’s a hard pill to swallow.

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5. It’s Already Behind in Connectivity and Charging

For a phone launching in 2025, the iPhone 16E seems strangely… behind.

•No Wi-Fi 7 or even Wi-Fi 6E – Faster connections? Not here.

•No 5G mmWave – Slower speeds in crowded areas.

•Slow 7.5W wireless charging – Ancient by today’s standards.

•Basic USB-C speeds – Unlike the iPhone 15 Pro, which flies through file transfers.

Apple is selling this as a "modernized budget iPhone", but it lacks future-proof tech that even mid-range Androids are starting to include.

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The Verdict: Should You Buy the iPhone 16E?

The iPhone 16E is an odd device. It’s neither truly budget-friendly nor feature-rich enough to feel like a smart purchase. You’re paying $599 for a phone that’s missing far too much.

Here’s a better strategy:

•If you want a budget iPhone, wait. The iPhone 15 or a refurbished iPhone 14 are smarter buys.

•If you care about AI and cameras, consider Android. The Pixel 9a is shaping up to be a beast.

• If you’re spending $600 anyway, why settle for less?

At the end of the day, the iPhone 16E is a compromise disguised as an upgrade—and that’s a tough sell.

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