iPhone 16e Is the 16e really priced that bad?

[jntdroid]

You certainly aren’t being trolled. The fact you have tried to justify all those areas is laughable to say the least and why you are Tim cook’s perfect customer.

Accepting poor tech in a 600 priced device when they can do better

Features are importantly in a phone if they aren’t hell just get a Nokia 3310

Main sensor is basically the same as XR from 2018 and same sensor size as what Apple puts on their ultra wide lens which is poor overall

For 600 price we really think one camera is acceptable when Samsung have phones with 120hz and 3 cameras on the S24 FE for example.

200 more for the iPhone 16 and 200 more for a Refurb 16 pro or even less for 15 pro makes far more sense.

And yes 60hz sucks on any device in 2025. iPhone 16 is no different

This 16e will also have less peak brightness to other models like 16 series as well if we are talking every spec

If people buy this 16e in good numbers then it says to Tim Cook it doesn’t matter what crap we put out as our fans will buy anything With an Apple logo on no matter how bad it is. Which doesn’t bring technology forward it just makes the product worse than it should be. All we are doing is encouraging average products being released

Legit question, did you take issue with the 14 being priced at $600 since the 16 line was released in the Fall?

Edit: apologies for the troll accusation, had I looked at your user history I would've known that wasn't the case

 

[SBlue1]

For me the iPhone 16e is just what I need. The price is ok, it's not a bargain but it's not overpriced as well. I guess Amazon will discount it anyway in its spring sale so whenever it gets 50 Euros off I will order it. Its already 80 Euros cheaper on Ebay but I don't trust these shady sellers.

 

[The Game 161]

Legit question, did you take issue with the 14 being priced at $600 since the 16 line was released in the Fall?

Edit: apologies for the troll accusation, had I looked at your user history I would've known that wasn't the case

600 for that i don't think is worth it either no. With the deals being so good for refurbish models these days i would always advise to go pro with iPhones based on their value for me

However i understand everybody has their reasons for what they buy and if they are happy that's up to them. So I wont go over this anymore as this was always just a friendly discussion and not intended for anybody to be annoyed or offended. As an apple fan I just want apple to do more and people to get more for what they buy

 

[jntdroid]

600 for that i don't think is worth it either no. With the deals being so good for refurbish models these days i would always advise to go pro with iPhones based on their value

However i understand everybody has their reasons for what they buy and if they are happy that's up to them. So I wont go over this anymore as this was always just a friendly discussion and not intended for anybody to be annoyed or offended. As an apple fan I just want apple to do more and people to get more for what they buy

Fair enough, I definitely don't want to offend or annoy anybody either. I just felt like there was some irrational knee-jerk hatred early on with this phone (not saying that was you) and was trying to balance that out with some sort of rational line of thinking, hence the purpose of this thread. I definitely want others (and myself!) to get the most bang for their buck in any situation as well.

 

[The Game 161]

Fair enough, I definitely don't want to offend or annoy anybody either. I just felt like there was some irrational knee-jerk hatred early on with this phone (not saying that was you) and was trying to balance that out with some sort of rational line of thinking, hence the purpose of this thread. I definitely want others (and myself!) to get the most bang for their buck in any situation as well.

End of the day if people enjoy the device that's all that matters.

 

[jfeathe]

I think $600 is a reasonable price considering the internal specs. To match the $400 price range of previous e-series iPhones, the RAM would have to be downgraded to 4 or 6GBs and the chip would have to be downgraded to an A16 or A17. Those would still be good specs but critically would miss out on Apple Intelligence which Apple has turned into one of their flagship technologies. After the massive Apple Intelligence marketing push these past 21 months, they've boxed themselves in to offering this service on every new Apple device moving forward.

 

[bousozoku]

Irrelevant. It won’t get you fast charge and it would have cost Apple pennies to implement in this phone.

It would have also made every 16e owner a potential MagSafe accessory customer and reduced confusion in their product stack.

They could have probably made this device for less cost if they’d simply blanked off one of the camera holes on the 16, installed the down binned SOC and called it a day.

They had to spin up an entire new manufacturing line for this!

What new manufacturing line? Do you mean the one that was working on the iPhone SE since 2016 or the one that produced the iPhone 7 and 8 that was used for the 2020 and 2022 iPhone SE?

 

[geta]

But hey if people want to pay for this that’s on them and their choice but for what you get it isn’t good value at all. Paying more for a 16 pro makes far more sense certainly when the price is only 200 more in most places

16e 128GB cost €700 while 16 Pro 128GB cost €1200 which is €500 more!

And if you think paying extra €500 is worth the additional features, go buy one, but not everyone is willing to pay so much for features they don't need.

 

[James6s]

Just about one week of having the 16e in my hands, which is the only way to gauge how good or bad a device is.

Really enjoying it so far! The standout for me is battery life - very impressive! The basic camera set up produces some excellent results and the performance is top notch.

Zero regrets choosing the 16e. For me and my needs it’s definitely worth it.

 

[The Game 161]

16e 128GB cost €700 while 16 Pro 128GB cost €1200 which is €500 more!

And if you think paying extra €500 is worth the additional features, go buy one, but not everyone is willing to pay so much for features they don't need.

That's brand new and it depends where you are based

In UK there's tons of retailers where you can get 16 pro for £850 to £870 now. All with warranty for any issues. If you're spending £600 on 16e to spend a few hundred more on a pro makes sense given it's very new device itself.

If you're saying spending 1200 over the 600 16e sure yes that's a big Jump but 850 or less depending where you buy it makes sense. Ibget those who say don't buy eBay as you have no warranty but plenty of retailers will offer this

 

[facedmurkroots]

I wish it kept the SE namesake and was 399 or 449 but I understand with the inflation over the last few years (especially 2022) that it was due a price increase.

Sadly, in the coming 4 years of the 16e lifecycle, 599 will probably genuinely become the same spending power in many of our countries that 399 was at the start of this decade. Apple likely know this.

I’d like to see it drop 100 in the coming years as it falls behind the main models. Unless Apple do update it annually as is also rumoured

 

[Zaydax333]

I don't think it's that overpriced honestly. But it's just... weird? The "E" phones are supposed to be parts bins grabs right?

Why doesn't it come in more fun colors?
Why did the omit MagSafe and UWB chip?
Why did they source a new camera part and not just use the 15 or 16's main camera sensor with sensor shift stabilization? (or is it the 15's sensor, idk?)

These are just... weird...

Magsafe and UWB stuff are genuinely useful/interesting features that can help set the iPhone apart from other phones in this price range and there's no way their mass production level doesn't make a super easy/cheap add.

They're using the same body as the 13/14 why isn't it coming in more colors? Surely that wouldn't have been that hard to keep around?

Same with the camera sensor: It's a new sensor/part right? Why isn't it just a parts bin grab of the 15/16 sensor part?

Just... weird...

 

[TgeekB]

You certainly aren’t being trolled. The fact you have tried to justify all those areas is laughable to say the least and why you are Tim cook’s perfect customer.

Accepting poor tech in a 600 priced device when they can do better

Features are importantly in a phone if they aren’t hell just get a Nokia 3310

Main sensor is basically the same as XR from 2018 and same sensor size as what Apple puts on their ultra wide lens which is poor overall

For 600 price we really think one camera is acceptable when Samsung have phones with 120hz and 3 cameras on the S24 FE for example.

200 more for the iPhone 16 and 200 more for a Refurb 16 pro or even less for 15 pro makes far more sense.

And yes 60hz sucks on any device in 2025. iPhone 16 is no different

This 16e will also have less peak brightness to other models like 16 series as well if we are talking every spec

If people buy this 16e in good numbers then it says to Tim Cook it doesn’t matter what crap we put out as our fans will buy anything With an Apple logo on no matter how bad it is. Which doesn’t bring technology forward it just makes the product worse than it should be. All we are doing is encouraging average products being released

As to your last sentence, because the rest is just one opinion, the 16e is not the only iPhone available. Apple has for sale several different phones at different price points so most anyone can get what they want. They also have a strong used segment for even less which they support long term. You have made it clear what you like, let others like what they do. Not difficult unless you’re just being argumentative.

 

[TgeekB]

Fair enough, I definitely don't want to offend or annoy anybody either. I just felt like there was some irrational knee-jerk hatred early on with this phone (not saying that was you) and was trying to balance that out with some sort of rational line of thinking, hence the purpose of this thread. I definitely want others (and myself!) to get the most bang for their buck in any situation as well.

There has been a lot of knee jerk, mostly from people who have never touched one. That says it all.

 

[shook187]

Delete

 

[Warped9]

Putting out a 16e on display today so I got to check it out firsthand. It’s nice.

Yes, it is modelled after the iPhone 14, but it is a bit smaller than the 14 which I have as my phone.

 

[RRC]

Putting out a 16e on display today so I got to check it out firsthand. It’s nice.

Yes, it is modelled after the iPhone 14, but it is a bit smaller than the 14 which I have as my phone.

I think it likely just felt smaller without a case, it’s the same size as the 14.

 

[Warped9]

I think it likely just felt smaller without a case, it’s the same size as the 14.

Could be, but it did seem smaller although the physical dimension are the same width and height, and 16e display is a smidgen bigger than the 14.

 

[DukeSilver79]

I think many here are overreacting to the price, which is typical MR. I don't find the price egregious.

I'm not overreacting. I think it'll do fine. That being said, there's no way I'm buying that one for my wife. I'll get her a reburb 15pro or something similar at that price point.

 

[Warped9]

I will say next to the 16e the 16 Pro Max feels like a huge chunk of overkill.

 

[Cirillo Gherardo]

It's definitely an expectation issue. But that doesn't mean it's wrong. The iPhone SE was $399, and only recently bumped to $429. They replaced it with a $599 phone. Considering what the 16e consists of, it is pretty well priced alongside the 16. But that does nothing for the iPhone customers who only bought an iPhone because $399 was something they could stomach. My in-laws have 6 year old iPhones SE hanging on by a thread, and probably won't upgrade now because the replacement model is so much more expensive.

 

[jamjam1993]

Its going to Flop

 

[TgeekB]

It's definitely an expectation issue. But that doesn't mean it's wrong. The iPhone SE was $399, and only recently bumped to $429. They replaced it with a $599 phone. Considering what the 16e consists of, it is pretty well priced alongside the 16. But that does nothing for the iPhone customers who only bought an iPhone because $399 was something they could stomach. My in-laws have 6 year old iPhones SE hanging on by a thread, and probably won't upgrade now because the replacement model is so much more expensive.

I can certainly understand their situation but, if you think about how long this phone will last and be supported, is it really that expensive for what it does? Spread out over 5 or 6 years? I can see them not wanting a plus or max but the 16e will give them many years of service. Ultimately the decision is theirs though.

 

[TgeekB]

Its going to Flop

I think it will easily outsell the SE but only time will tell.

 

[iHorseHead]

If there had only ever been a £599 iPhone and nothing cheaper, Apple would have got nothing out of me and I’d still be using Windows and Android.

I know that Americans and Brits calculate prices differently and there are taxes on stuff + importing stuff etc but in my country the iPhone 16e is 700€ and well, the iPhone 16 is 800€ but still, 15 is way cheaper now than the iPhone 16e over here.