I did a quick test of the iPhone 16e camera, and it took me by surprise.

      It’s time for a new iPhone, and if the camera isn’t a top priority for you but you still want to capture great photos on special occasions, you might be leaning towards the iPhone 16 Pro with its three-camera system. However, if battery life is more crucial than camera features, the new iPhone 16e might catch your eye, even though it has only a single camera. In 2025? Really? Yes, it features a 48MP Fusion main camera capable of 2x telephoto zoom, but surely, having more cameras is preferable.

      Apple has impressed me with its cameras in the past, so I felt compelled to test the camera on the iPhone 16e. To summarize, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the iPhone 16e camera. In more detail, the outcome largely depends on your intended use for the photos. Here’s my reasoning.

      An initial test of the 2x zoom reveals that the iPhone 16e’s single camera provides 2x optical zoom through sensor cropping, along with a maximum digital zoom of 10x. Like many other manufacturers, Apple advertises that the in-sensor crop offers optical quality, using the same sensor crop across all models in the iPhone 16 lineup. This consistency means you can generally expect similar photo quality overall, and the 2x zoom is quite comparable to that on the iPhone 16 Pro.

      1.

       iPhone 16e 1x

      2.

       iPhone 16e 2x

      3.

       iPhone 16 Pro 1x

      4.

       iPhone 16 Pro 2x

      This comparison was particularly intriguing as the iPhone 16e seems to outperform its more prestigious counterpart in both sets of photos. This is evident in the edges of the shop sign and the overall color representation. Although the cropping varies slightly in the iPhone 16 Pro samples and shows more people, the iPhone 16e clearly shines in this instance.

      Comparing the iPhone 16e's camera capabilities to the 16 Pro’s higher-quality zoom, it’s worth noting that the iPhone 16e shares the same maximum zoom of 10x as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, while the iPhone 16 Pro boasts a max zoom of 25x, which is largely impractical at that range.

      First, let’s examine the photos taken at 1x, 2x, 5x, and 10x with the iPhone 16e:

      1.

       1x

      2.

       2x

      3.

       5x

      4.

       10x

      Now, let’s look at the same zoom levels captured with the iPhone 16 Pro:

      1.

       1x

      2.

       2x

      3.

       5x

      4.

       10x

      I was particularly impressed with the iPhone 16e in the first two images. The pictures are clear and vibrant with excellent color reproduction. Even though the iPhone 16 Pro offers better dynamic range, the photos from the iPhone 16e are great for social media sharing. While the 16 Pro clearly excels in 5x and 10x zoom, the 16e is still sufficient for posting online, perhaps with some minor edits.

      I found myself instinctively trying to use an ultra-wide angle on the iPhone 16e, only to remember it lacks this feature. This may not be a deal-breaker for everyone—consider the Motorola Razr Plus 2024, which also does without an ultra-wide and performs just fine—but it means you might need to adjust your positioning at times.

      Further testing at 1x, 2x, and 10x was planned, yet a delayed delivery limited my time. Still, I managed to check the 1x and 2x photos on the iPhone 16e, noting how often I felt anything was lacking.

      1.

       1x

      2.

       2x

      Our first test indicates the iPhone 16e can produce impressive photos at both 1x and 2x. There’s a slight haze due to sunlight, yet the camera handles it well. While some details in the poster might lack sharpness, it still looks good at a casual glance.

      1.

       1x

      2.

       2x

      3.

       10x

      Another test yielded similar findings. The 2x images appear competent, but like other shots from the iPhone 16e, finer details seem less defined. This is likely expected from a single-camera device, but it will be interesting to compare it with competitors. The 10x zoom is surprisingly useful for reading larger text but is ultimately ineffective