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While the iPhone 16e costs $200 less than the regular iPhone 16, it comes with several compromises that may cost you more in the long run.
1
Missing MagSafe
The iPhone 16e is Apple’s cheapest new entrant to the iPhone 16 family and a replacement for the iPhone SE 3. However, with its increased price tag, the absence of MagSafe support on the iPhone 16e is surprising—especially since the feature has been a staple of iPhones since the iPhone 12. MagSafe is so reliable that the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) used it as a baseline for Qi 2, and seeing it missing here is a huge loss for potential iPhone 16e buyers.
MagSafe fixes one of the biggest major pain points of wireless charging by automatically aligning the wireless charger with the back of the iPhone using agents. This ensures a sturdy connection and a stable wireless transfer of power. That, in turn, helps reduce unwanted power loss and heat generation. But MagSafe support also opened the floodgates to accessories that can magnetically snap on the back of the iPhone.
Some of the best iPhone 16 MagSafe accessories are so good we can’t live without them. These range from wireless power banks and car/bike mounts to more niche accessories like camera add-on grips. MagSafe eliminated the hassle of securely fastening your phone to a car or bike mount. Instead, thanks to the built-in magnets, your iPhone will magnetically attach to these accessories with a secure fit.
No MagSafe support means the iPhone 16e will miss out on all these useful accessories. The phone will also charge slower wirelessly, with speeds topping out at 7.5W. However, that might not sting as much as the lack of MagSafe support for accessories.
Third-party cases will likely add MagSafe support to the iPhone 16e, as seen on many flagship Android phones. There are stickers that bring MagSafe to Android phones, so similar solutions should appear for the iPhone 16e. The experience might not be exactly the same as native support, but it should be close enough.
2
The Notch Returns
Apple is done with the notch, or at least that’s what we thought. Starting with the iPhone 15, Apple switched to the more useful Dynamic Island across its entire iPhone lineup. However, for reasons only known to the company, the iPhone 16e uses a notched display.
Given Apple is slowly using Dynamic Island for more functions and features in iOS, equipping the iPhone 16e with a notched display seems like a weird decision. It also makes the phone an outlier in the iPhone 16 lineup.
The lack of Dynamic Island on the iPhone 16e is not a deal-breaker. However, this means you will miss out on some subtle iOS convenience features, like adjusting the flashlight intensity from the Dynamic Island, controlling music playback, and quick access to Live Activities.
3
Stuck on Wi-Fi 6
The iPhone 16e is the first device in Apple’s lineup to use its in-house C1 modem. Apple proudly claims in its iPhone 16e press release that it is the “most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone.”
While this might be impressive, Apple has only equipped the iPhone 16e with Wi-Fi 6 support, which is likely a part of its attempts to cut costs. For comparison, the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup ships with Wi-Fi 7 support, two generations newer than Wi-Fi 6.
Besides 2.4GHz and 5GHz, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 operate on a newer 6GHz band for better performance and less network congestion. Plus, there are several security benefits when using Wi-Fi 7. Wi-Fi 6 misses out on this improvement. So, while it promises higher bandwidth than Wi-Fi 5, you will face issues in areas with several devices and Wi-Fi networks.
While Wi-Fi 6 support on the iPhone 16e might work for now, you will certainly feel the absence of Wi-Fi 6E or 7 in a few years.
4
Goodbye Ultra Wideband Support
With newer iPhones, you can unlock your car digitally or have your HomeKit-compatible door unlock automatically as you approach. You can also use Precision Finding to locate an AirTag with ease by having your phone direct you right to it. This is all thanks to the ultra-wideband (UWB) chip installed in the iPhone. However, the iPhone 16e lacks this chip, meaning none of these features are available on the device.
Admittedly, if you live outside the US or have never used your iPhone for these features, the missing UWB chip won’t bother you much. For me, though, the lack of support for Precision Finding AirTags is a massive loss, as I heavily rely on the tracking tags to find items I frequently misplace.
5
No mmWave 5G
Perhaps the biggest hidden cost of the iPhone 16e’s more efficient C1 modem is that it lacks support for mmWave 5G. Essentially, the phone supports 5G, but not the standard that carriers promise superfast gigabit+ download speeds with. mmWave 5G is standard on almost all mid-range and flagship Android phones. Even all the newer iPhones support the standard.
So, its omission on the iPhone 16e is puzzling, though it likely plays a key role in its slightly lower price tag and longer battery life. If you’re getting the iPhone 16e, don’t be surprised if the phone doesn’t pull some insane mobile data speeds. If you use mobile data a lot, then the lack of mmWave 5G will likely be a huge deal breaker.
More importantly, the lack of this faster 5G standard will sting a year or two down the line when mmWave network modules become even more common. But if mmWave 5G is not prominent in your country, the iPhone 16e will serve you just fine.
The iPhone 16e lacks several other features, like Camera Control, built-in Thread radio, and an ultrawide camera. But in the long run, these missing features are unlikely to affect you as much as the ones mentioned above. Plus, their absence is more obvious than the missing UWB chip or MagSafe support, which you may only realize after buying the phone.
