iPhone 16e Review Summary

Introduction

• Discussing the iPhone 16e, priced at £600, as Apple's most affordable model.
• Critique of the previous model, iPhone SE3, being replaced.
• Humorously suggests drastic measures like faking one’s death due to frustration.

Design and Build Quality

• iPhone 16e features a compact 6.1" design but maintains thick bezels.
• Standard Apple design elements present: flat edges, sharp corners.
• The overall aesthetic described as bland; color options limited to black and white.
• Slight camera bump present; the phone shakes when placed on flat surfaces.

Features

• Touch ID sensor removed; Face ID remains.
• Face ID is efficient even in low light.
• Fully water-resistant, but screen responsiveness can be affected by moisture.

Storage

• Comes with 128GB of storage, considered insufficient for many users, especially gamers.
• No microSD card support; upgrades to higher storage options are costly.

Operating System

• Runs on iOS 16, offering five years of support.
• Criticizes the limited visibility of notifications and absence of always-on display.
• Introduces new features like a customizable action button, but with mixed reviews on functionality.

Apple Intelligence

• Apple’s AI features underwhelming, described as ineffective for practical use.
• Various tools like message rewriting and image generation criticized for poor performance.
• Siri upgraded but still seen as ineffective compared to competitors.

Display

• Super Retina XDR OLED display; criticized for the return of the notch and 60Hz refresh rate.
• Brightness levels generally acceptable outdoors but can be overly bright at times.

Performance

• Powered by a stripped-back A18 chipset; expected to handle games well but experiences performance issues.
• Connectivity is fine, but lacks support for some newer technologies like Wi-Fi 7.

Battery Life

• Battery life is a strong point, typically providing 6-7 hours of screen time.
• Slow charging speeds for both wired and wireless charging.

Camera Performance

• Single 48MP camera performs adequately for casual photography but lacks features found in flagship competitors.
• Nighttime photography experiences issues with flaring and saturation.

Conclusion

• Overall negative outlook on iPhone 16e; not recommended for purchase.
• Humorously compared to giving a phone to someone who won’t notice its deficiencies.
• Encouragement for audience feedback and suggestions for future content.