iPhone 16e in review: Apple says goodbye to the home button

The new entry-level iPhone is here. Apple is saying goodbye to the home button and moving the model closer to the high-priced flagships. The new iPhone 16e is bigger, faster - and more expensive.

For years, the iPhone SE was the underdog in the Apple universe - small, familiar and surprisingly powerful. While the expensive flagships got bigger and bigger, the SE remained the last option for fans of the classic iPhone design: a home button, a handy case and a price that made an Apple phone affordable for many.

With the new iPhone 16e, Apple is revamping its entry-level iPhone: the home button is disappearing, the display size is growing and with it the price. Will it still remain the popular price-performance tip that many appreciate? t-online was able to test the new model in advance and explains for whom an upgrade is worthwhile.

The biggest change in the iPhone 16e is the display. Apple now uses an OLED panel, which is not only larger at 6.1 inches diagonal, but also displays colors more vividly and contrasts sharper. It is therefore the same size as the iPhone 16. For comparison: The iPhone SE had a diagonal of 4.7 inches. But because the display now extends to the edge of the case, the iPhone 16e is only eight millimeters higher and four millimeters wider than the SE.

Another new feature that is immediately noticeable: the home button has been removed, and with it the fingerprint sensor. The 16e is Apple's first entry-level model to use FaceID facial recognition.

Inside, there are many similarities with the iPhone 16: The refresh rate remains at 60 Hertz - if you want a smoother 120 Hertz, you still have to go for the Pro model. The A18 chip also comes from the iPhone 16, but is a bit slimmed down and offers one less graphics core. However, this has no noticeable impact on normal everyday applications. With the processor, the new model is also fit for Apple's AI functions. Apple Intelligence will also be available in Germany from April.

In terms of battery life, it achieves better values ​​than the regular iPhone 16: According to Apple, it can play video for up to 26 hours. In our practical test, we managed to get through a whole day with normal tasks such as checking emails, writing messages, taking photos, surfing the Internet and making phone calls without any problems. In the evening, on the day of the test, the battery level was still around 30 percent. The longer battery life is also said to be due to the specially developed mobile phone chip: Apple calls it C1, making it independent of the previous supplier Qualcomm.

The iPhone 16e has just one main camera with 48 megapixels, which allows a two-fold zoom. The camera is optically stabilized, which enables clearer images, especially in low light. The front camera has also been improved: it now offers 12 megapixels and an autofocus that allows for sharper selfies. Both cameras support 4K videos at up to 60 frames per second.

However, an ultra-wide-angle lens is missing. Both the regular iPhone 16 and the Pro models have this second lens. It offers a larger viewing angle and can capture significantly more of the surroundings.