CNET85
Delivers most of what Apple fans want with good battery, camera and chip, but the price and omissions make its value proposition odd.
Apple iPhone 16e
7 expert reviews#70 of 79 smartphones
Photo coming
4/7critics
recommend
recommend
Best for battery on a budget
Critics’ consensus
7 professional reviewers tested the Apple iPhone 16e, and 4 recommend it. Most praised: performance and battery life. Most common complaint: price.
Reviewed by CNET, TechRadar, Tom's Guide and 4 more
The catch: It costs $599 yet lacks MagSafe, a second camera and a fast display.
Broad agreement
Scores run from 60 to 85All 7 scores printed by the outlets
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What do critics say about the Apple iPhone 16e?
TechRadar80
A fast, long-lasting and capable cheaper iPhone with Apple Intelligence.
Tom's Guide80
Good performance, camera and full Apple Intelligence, but not really a value phone given what is cut.
Trusted Reviews80
Not exciting but a sturdy, capable pick for people upgrading from older iPhones.
Expert Reviews80
Called Apple's best value phone, with strong battery, speed and video, though some Android rivals offer more hardware for the money.
WIRED70
A reliable phone with great battery and performance, but the reviewer finds it overpriced and missing MagSafe and precise AirTag tracking.
Tech Advisor60
Strong performance and battery in a clean design, but the reviewer struggles to say who it is for given the price and better alternatives, including older iPhones.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
What critics praise most
Performance6 of 7
Battery life5 of 7
Design2 of 7
What critics dislike most
Price2 of 7
Alternatives
Not sure about the Apple iPhone 16e?
Also reviewed, not yet scored
- Motorola Moto G Power (2026) · 3 reviews so far
- Nothing Phone (3a) · 3 reviews so far
- Oppo Find X9 Pro · 3 reviews so far
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 · 3 reviews so far
Common questions
Is the Apple iPhone 16e worth it?
Critics are divided: 4 of 7 recommend it. It costs $599 yet lacks MagSafe, a second camera and a fast display.
Do critics agree about the Apple iPhone 16e?
Broad agreement: scores range from 60 (Tech Advisor) to 85 (CNET), a spread of 25 points across 7 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.
What do critics dislike about the Apple iPhone 16e?
Price (2 of 7 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Apple iPhone 16e?
The Oppo Find X9 Ultra (critic score 94), best overall.