Highlights
- Reviewers reveal the iPhone 16e has a 3,961mAh battery.
- Apple’s in-house 5G modem C1 chip performs well with comparable efficiency to Qualcomm’s modems.
- Notable drawbacks include the lack of MagSafe support and reliance on older Qi wireless charging technology.
Apple is known for not revealing the exact battery size of its products. However, the brand launched its value-focused iPhone 16e recently claiming a larger battery. In its launch video, Apple claimed the 16e offers “unprecedented” battery life for a phone of this class. Now that reviews are out, the tech reviewers have tested and confirmed the large battery size.
iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16 – Battery
According to tech reviewer Dave Lee, the iPhone 16e packs a 3,961mAh battery delivering big phone battery life in a smaller 6.1-inch device. In his review, he says, “the battery life of a big phone, a plus-product, a max-type product, except it’s a normal size phone with a 6.1-inch screen”.
Dave Lee’s tests show it lasts 12 hours and 54 minutes in a Wi-Fi Reddit browsing test, outlasting the iPhone 16’s 11 hours and 17 minutes. When playing Pokémon Unite on LTE, the iPhone 16e lasted 3 hours and 39 minutes, compared to the iPhone 16’s 3 hours and 7 minutes. In a Netflix streaming test on LTE, the iPhone 16e lasted 19 hours and 17 minutes, while the iPhone 16 drained in 15 hours and 43 minutes.
iPhone 16 Series Battery Size –
- iPhone 16e – 3,961mAh
- iPhone 16 – 3,561 mAh
- iPhone 16 Plus – 4,674 mAh
- iPhone 16 Pro – 3,582 mAh
- iPhone 16 Pro Max – 4,685 mAh
Engadget too praised the device, stating it “had no problem lasting well longer than 24 hours,” while MKBHD called it “a really good battery.”
iPhone 16e – What Reviewers Have To Say?
The iPhone 16e performs well in its price range, even though its GPU has one less core than the A18 chip found in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. However, CNET noted that benchmark tests reveal a noticeable gap in GPU performance, putting it on par with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.
CNET says, “In everyday use, the phone had no issues playing video games, editing and saving videos and using Apple Intelligence. In the benchmark test for the CPU, the iPhone 16E scored higher than the iPhone 16, iPhone 15 and iPhone SE.”
The C1 chip, Apple’s first in-house 5G modem, also received mixed feedback. Reviews say it “seems fine” and performs similarly to Qualcomm’s modems in other iPhone 16 models. Apple claims it uses less power, helping with battery life.
The Verge says, “Every time I thought the iPhone 16 was faring better with video call quality or upload speeds, I’d try the same test again and the 16E would come out ahead. If I were none the wiser, I wouldn’t have given the modem a second thought as I used the phone. Given the difficulty Apple seemingly encountered building this thing and the complexity of a cellular modem, “it seems fine” is actually a great outcome for the C1.”
Revealing a similar experience, the CNET reviewer also revealed, “I ran tests side by side with an iPhone 16 Pro Max that was also on AT&T using the Speed Test app by Ookla. […] And while the 16 Pro Max had faster download speeds, the 16E’s results were still good. In fact, its upload speeds beat the 16 Pro Max, which means selfies and videos post quickly to Instagram and TikTok, while video calls look and sound good without any freezes.”
The iPhone 16e has a single 48MP rear camera, the same resolution as the iPhone 16 but with a smaller sensor. MKBHD pointed out that this results in “way less shallow depth of field” and reduced sharpness in low-light conditions. This makes the phone rely more on Night Mode for darker scenes.
Despite the compromises, The Verge stated that “most people will be perfectly happy” with the iPhone 16e’s camera as it still takes good photos and videos in most cases.
While battery life and performance are strong points, the iPhone 16e has two notable drawbacks. The lack of MagSafe support could be disappointing for users upgrading from an iPhone 12 or newer, as it removes access to MagSafe accessories and faster wireless charging options.
Moreover, the phone sticks to older Qi wireless charging technology, which is slower and generates more heat compared to the MagSafe-supported iPhones.
FAQs
Q1. What is the battery capacity of the iPhone 16e compared to other iPhone 16 models?
Answer. According to tech reviewer Dave Lee, the iPhone 16e has a 3,961mAh battery. For comparison, the iPhone 16 has a 3,561mAh battery, the iPhone 16 Plus has a 4,674mAh battery, the iPhone 16 Pro has a 3,582mAh battery, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 4,685mAh battery.
Q2. How long does the iPhone 16e last in various usage tests?
Answer. Tech reviewer Dave Lee’s tests revealed – In a Wi-Fi Reddit browsing test, the iPhone 16e lasted 12 hours and 54 minutes, outlasting the iPhone 16’s 11 hours and 17 minutes. It lasted 3 hours and 39 minutes playing Pokémon Unite on LTE, compared to the iPhone 16’s 3 hours and 7 minutes. During Netflix streaming on LTE, the iPhone 16e lasted 19 hours and 17 minutes, while the iPhone 16 drained in 15 hours and 43 minutes.
Q3. What are the performance capabilities of the iPhone 16e’s C1 chip?
Answer. The C1 chip uses less power contributing to better battery life and handles tasks like video calls and uploads efficiently.
Q4. What are the camera specifications of the iPhone 16e?
Answer. The iPhone 16e has a single 48MP rear camera, the same resolution as the iPhone 16 but with a smaller sensor. This results in reduced sharpness in low-light conditions and more reliance on Night Mode for darker scenes.
Q5. What are the notable drawbacks of the iPhone 16e?
Answer. The iPhone 16e lacks MagSafe support, which limits access to MagSafe accessories and faster wireless charging options. It also uses older Qi wireless charging technology, which is slower and generates more heat compared to MagSafe-supported iPhones.
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