2 weeks Ago By Jamie Inocian
Review Verdict: The iPhone 16e is a great option for iOS users who might be looking to make the jump from older models but might be on a tight budget. However, it lacks newer features that current iPhones have, which could be discouraging.It’s safe to say that, while iPhones get a lot of flak from a lot of our audience, the iPhone 16e seems to be getting a lot of special attention.
There is a good reason for all the comments made about this phone but it would be unfair to not share what this “entry-level” iPhone gets right and why it could still be a viable option for some.ProsA18 Chip and iOS Optimization Makes this a PowerhouseBattery Life is Incredible for a Compact PhoneConsSingle Camera is LimitingDated Display is DatediPhone 16e Review Philippines: DesignWhat’s really to say about this department? It’s Apple being Apple since the design of the iPhone has barely changed in the last couple of generations. I will say that it feels really premium though — as it should be.
Since Apple did leave out a few features on this device, it does feel a lot lighter than my current Apple device — an iPhone 15 Pro — and feels slightly slimmer too.I’ve been using it without a case during our time with this device and, I’m happy to report, that the Ceramic Shield Glass on the back has held up really nicely despite me throwing this in my gym bag alongside my keys. For those of you who might wondering about water and dust resistance, the iPhone 16e has an IP68 rating too.
iPhone 16e Review Philippines: DisplayThe iPhone 16e is equipped with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR Display, which is fancy Apple talk for an OLED Display. While it does deliver the goods in terms of image quality when consuming content, the display is where this device lost me a little.
We all know Apple only equips their top-end phones with the highest refresh rates but in 2025, it still stings; especially when we’re seeing budget phones on the Android side of the fence get 120Hz refresh rates that make phones navigate smoother.There’s also the old-school notch that I last saw on my iPhone 12. I understand that Apple might be using older display tech so that these devices don’t cost more than they do but it really does make the display look dated.
iPhone 16e Review Philippines: Performance and Battery LifeIf there’s one area that is a definite win for the iPhone 16e, it’s the performance of the A18 chip it has onboard. It handled everything I threw at it with no issues whatsoever. It was tough for me to edit reels on this device because of the smaller display and the fact that I am a certified Tito, but it was a breeze for this device.
If you look at the benchmark scores, there’s only a tiny bit of a difference from the A17 Pro that’s in the iPhone 15 Pro but the A18 does stand toe-to-toe with the 8 Elite-equipped POCO F7 Ultra with a slight edge for the latter when it comes to Multi Core scores.Apple has always been known for having killer optimization with iOS, which is why it takes a long time for people to actually upgrade their iPhones. Case in point, Carlo Ople — our Founder — is still rocking an iPhone 12 Pro Max to this day and it still runs really well.
I, for one, don’t intend to upgrade my iPhone 15 Pro until maybe the 18 series comes out.As for battery life, the iPhone 16e has probably the best out of all the iPhones I’ve used before. There were times where I would leave the house with a full charge and come home with 50-percent left if it wasn’t too busy.
The kicker here is that you’re only getting 20W charging here and there is no MagSafe on the 16e.iPhone 16e Review Philippines: CameraOne of the other gripes about the iPhone 16e is with its lone camera. It can be a bit limiting but think of it like having a prime lens on a mirrorless camera if you have one.
The results are solid though with punchy colors and great details.Low-light shots are handled really well too, thanks to the clever computational photography that we’ve seen from Apple.iPhone 16e Review Philippines: Wrap Up and ConclusionIt’s really tough to fully recommend the iPhone 16e given all the awesome choices we have on the Android side of things and, to think, we’ve only just entered the 2nd quarter of 2025.
Like I said at the beginning though, it does get a few things right; especially when it comes to the performance side of things and when it comes to battery life.I’d say that if you’re looking to upgrade from an older iPhone and stay within the ecosystem but have a tighter budget, this is definitely worth considering. You do have to be aware of the compromises they’ve made though and really think about if it’s worth it for you.
iPhone 16e Review Philippines: Pricing and AvailabilityThe iPhone 16e starts at Php 39,790 for the base model with 128GB of storage and is available via Beyond the Box and Digital Walker..
