Should you merely should have blue textual content bubbles—however do not require all of Apple’s latest cellphone expertise—the iPhone 16e might best for you, reviewers say.

Apple (AAPL) introduced the 16e final month, a relatively low-cost iPhone that features its latest AI features however not such capabilities as MagSafe wi-fi charging expertise and the Dynamic Island perform that lets customers see some background actions—like timers and map instructions—on their dwelling screens.

Investopedia learn a choice of opinions to get a way of early responses to the cellphone, which was to hit shops yesterday. This is a choice of what we discovered, together with hyperlinks to the opinions.

For $600, the cellphone comes with out some options which might be current in different iPhone 16 fashions. Whereas which means it won’t match everybody’s wants, a number of reviewers wrote, it may be a match for somebody who hasn’t upgraded shortly or is dipping their toe within the iPhone waters for the primary time.

“It is for the individual holding on to an iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone X, able to improve as a result of their greater than seven-year-old smartphone is not working too effectively these days. They need a brand new cellphone, and it simply must be an iPhone,” says a Wired evaluate.

A CNET evaluate mentioned that Apple selected to implement a few of its greatest options within the simplified mannequin, citing battery life (although the evaluate says extra testing can be wanted), a high-quality digicam (although no ultra-wide digicam), fast add speeds, and Apple emergency options together with satellite tv for pc help to achieve emergency responders when there is not any cell sign. TechCrunch says the iPhone 16e «is not an thrilling machine. It is a secure one,» with reliability that retains prices down.

Whereas different fashions within the iPhone 16 household begin simply shy of $800, some reviewers assume the checklist worth for the iPhone 16e remains to be too excessive, given the omissions. Different budget-friendly telephones available on the market supply extra bells and whistles at a decrease value, a number of wrote.

“On Android, you should buy a $500 cellphone with a quick refresh-rate display, two rear cameras, seven years of software program help, and wi-fi charging. On iOS, you should buy this $599 cellphone with one rear digicam, a normal 60Hz display, wi-fi charging (however no MagSafe), and an ample however unspoken quantity of software program help. Apple has no competitors relating to telephones working iOS. The corporate can gate-keep these conveniences behind the next price ticket, and that’s merely the way in which issues might be,” reads a evaluate from The Verge.

Nonetheless, USA Right now says it is «the most effective entry level into Apple’s ecosystem in years,» and a step up from the corporate’s iPhone SE, which had its third technology launch in March 2022.