Apple states that users of the iPhone 16e are not concerned about MagSafe, and they are likely correct.

      Apple

      

      

      

       The iPhone 16e launches today, and the initial reviews are beginning to surface online. One review that stood out to me was from John Gruber at Daring Fireball. His extensive review includes insights he gathered from Apple representatives regarding the decision to omit MagSafe for wireless charging on the iPhone 16e. The reasoning seems valid and isn’t solely focused on cutting costs.

      As previously noted, Apple's latest budget-friendly phone incorporates several features found in the iPhone 16. However, the iPhone 16e is priced $200 lower. Consequently, certain features from the iPhone 16 are missing in the iPhone 16e, with MagSafe being one of them.

      MagSafe made its debut with the iPhone 12 series in 2020. Aside from the iPhone SE 3 (released in 2022), every iPhone produced since then has included MagSafe—except for the iPhone 16e.

      

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       Gruber mentioned that Apple representatives determined, “most people in the 16e’s target audience exclusively charge their devices using a cable. They typically do not use inductive charging at all, and when they do, they likely don’t mind that the 16e is limited to a slow 7.5W Qi charging speed, unlike recent, pricier iPhones that charge through MagSafe at 15W or even 25W.”

      In summary, Apple believes that most in the iPhone 16e demographic have little interest in MagSafe.

      After reading Gruber’s comments, I thought about my parents, who I suspect are part of the intended audience for the iPhone 16e. Both are in their mid-70s and currently own iPhone 14 models. However, they do not utilize MagSafe technology. They only charge their phones at night, so fast charging isn’t crucial for them. I would assume that many new iPhone buyers, like my parents, might share similar preferences, which could influence Apple’s marketing strategy for the iPhone 16e.

      The iPhone 16e is officially available as of today, February 28, starting at $599 for the 128GB model. The 256GB version retails for $699, while the 512GB model is available for $899. These prices are $200 lower than those of the iPhone 16 models.

      Nonetheless, the iPhone 16e lacks certain features, including Camera Control, Dynamic Island, and a wide-angle rear camera. Additionally, it is equipped with a 4-core GPU, in contrast to the 5-core GPU found in the iPhone 16.

      On a positive note, the iPhone 16e provides longer battery life, lasting 26 hours compared to the 22 hours of the more expensive model. Moreover, it is slightly lighter.

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

       Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer, focusing on mobile technology.

      

      

      

      

       The iPhone 16e has not lived up to my expectations as the iPhone SE 4

      

       When a new iPhone is announced in the first half of the year, it’s typically not one of Apple’s flagship models such as the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro. Instead, this time of year usually introduces a new SE model. However, that isn’t the case for 2025. On Wednesday, the world was introduced, not to the “iPhone SE 4,” but to the iPhone 16e.

      The new device takes the place of the iPhone SE 3 as Apple's most economical iPhone. Nevertheless, it does not draw from prior SE models. Instead, it closely resembles the 2022 iPhone 14, which, like the iPhone SE 3, has been removed from the market this week.

      

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       Apple missed a charming, suitable chance with the iPhone 16e’s name

      

       The names we give our smartphones are important. If they are too cumbersome, we forget them; if they are overly wordy, we struggle to remember; and if they are too strange, we won’t use them. While they don’t need to convey meaning, they should fit well. The name of the new iPhone 16e does fit, much better than other anticipated alternatives, and it was one of Apple’s smarter choices for the device. However, there is another name I would have preferred more.

      You’re part of the family now

      Since rumors began circulating over a year ago, it was assumed that the iPhone 16e would be called the iPhone SE 4, or the iPhone SE (2025), in keeping with the trend of previous models in the lineup