Reviewed: New iPhone 16e

There's really only one thing wrong with Apple's latest phone.

Author

Leander Kahney
March 03, 2025

In partnership with

There’s a lot to like about the new iPhone 16e.

It has an attractive, clean design. The screen is bright and responsive, and there’s no outdated Home button.

It comes with Apple’s great new modem, a surprisingly capable camera and updated internals that make it fast and snappy.

And the price, which could be better, will no doubt soon be discounted to something much more attractive than the current $599.

In fact, the price was just about the only thing our reviewer, D. Griffin Jones, could find wrong with the device.

Griffin didn’t expect to like the iPhone 16e so much, but after putting it through its paces, he came away thoroughly impressed.

Aside from the price, there is only one other big knock on the 16e — but it’s something that’s easily remedied. Check out Griffin’s very positive hands-on review.

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • For the second time in as many months, Tim Cook sent out a cryptic X post about a surprise new product! This week, it’s something “Air”-related. Wonder what it might be?

  • Our resident headphones expert, David Snow, is a big fan of EarFun’s inexpensive models, which punch way above their weight. On Monday, the company launched a new pair of ANC cans that promise premium audio and features at the “absurdly low” price of just $42.

  • Yeah, it only took 15 years for puzzle-solving game Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light to make it to iPhone and iPad, but it’s well worth it, according to our review.

  • A new sale on Apple Watch Series 10 drops it to its lifetime low price of just $329.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

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A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

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A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Apple Watch Series 10 hits lifetime low in this amazing deal

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Today in Apple history: Homebrew Computer Club meets for first time

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New audio interface and microphone give good voice to MacBook Pro rig [Setups]

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Tweets of the day

Wallpaper of the day

One more thing ...

❝

We tend to focus much more. People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of many of the things we haven't done as the things we have done.

— Steve Jobs, 2008.

Today’s poll

Is the iPhone 16e's lack of MagSafe a deal-breaker?

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Results from yesterday’s poll: What’s your favorite Apple trick?

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