iPhone 16e Review - Most Affordable New iPhone with A18 Chip Under 80,000 BDT
iPhone 16e Review - Most Affordable New iPhone with A18 Chip Under 80,000 BDT
The iPhone 16e is Apple's most affordable new iPhone in 2025, bringing the powerful A18 chip and modern design to a lower price point. This comprehensive review covers performance, camera, battery life, and whether it's worth buying over the iPhone 15 or Android flagships.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Details | Display | 6.1-inch 60Hz OLED | Processor | A18 Bionic | RAM | 6GB | Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB | Rear Camera | 48MP (f/1.6) + 12MP (f/2.4) | Front Camera | 12MP with autofocus | Battery | ~3500 mAh, 20W wired, 15W MagSafe | OS | iOS 18 | Security | Face ID |
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Unboxing and First Impressions
The iPhone 16e comes in a slimmer box than previous iPhones, as Apple continues its eco-friendly approach. Inside, you get the iPhone 16e, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and some documentation. No charger is included, so you'll need to buy one separately. The phone feels premium with its aluminum frame and glass back. The 6.1-inch display is bright and colorful, though the 60Hz refresh rate is noticeable compared to Pro models.
Design and Build Quality
The iPhone 16e features a design similar to the iPhone 15, with flat aluminum sides and a glass back. The phone measures 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm and weighs 170g, making it comfortable to hold and use with one hand. The notch at the top houses the Face ID sensors, and the mute switch has been replaced with the Action Button from the Pro models.
The phone is available in five colors: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Pink, and (PRODUCT)RED.
Display
The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display is excellent for watching videos and viewing photos. Colors are accurate, blacks are deep, and brightness reaches up to 1600 nits for HDR content and 2000 nits peak outdoor brightness.
Display highlights:
- OLED panel with perfect blacks
- HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
- Ceramic Shield front glass for durability
- True Tone for adaptive color temperature
The 60Hz disappointment: At this price point (80,000+ BDT), the lack of a 120Hz ProMotion display is disappointing. Many Android phones at half the price offer smoother 120Hz displays. If you're sensitive to refresh rates, this might be a dealbreaker.
Performance
The A18 Bionic chip is incredibly powerful, matching or exceeding the performance of flagship Android phones. Everything is instant - app opening, multitasking, and gaming are buttery smooth despite the 60Hz display limitation.
Performance test results:
- Geekbench 6 single-core: ~3,500
- Geekbench 6 multi-core: ~8,500
- AnTuTu: ~1,500,000
Gaming performance is outstanding. Games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile run at maximum settings without any lag. The A18 chip is also very efficient, contributing to good battery life.
Camera
The dual-camera system on the iPhone 16e is a significant upgrade from previous SE models. The 48MP main camera captures excellent photos in all lighting conditions, and the 12MP ultrawide camera allows for expansive landscape shots.
48MP Main Camera
The 48MP sensor with f/1.6 aperture captures stunning photos with natural colors and excellent dynamic range. Apple's computational photography ensures great results in both daylight and low light. The 2x optical-quality zoom from cropping into the 48MP sensor is a nice bonus.
12MP Ultrawide Camera
The 12MP ultrawide camera with 120-degree field of view is great for landscape and group photos. Image quality is good but not as sharp as the main camera, especially in low light.
12MP Front Camera
The 12MP front camera with autofocus takes sharp selfies and supports Face ID. Portrait mode works well, and the new Photographic Styles allow you to customize the look of your photos.
Video Recording
Video recording is where iPhones shine. The iPhone 16e can record 4K Dolby Vision HDR video at 60fps, with excellent stabilization and audio quality. It's one of the best video recording phones at this price.
Battery Life
The battery life on the iPhone 16e is good but not class-leading. The ~3500 mAh battery (Apple doesn't disclose exact capacity) lasts about 6-7 hours of screen-on time with mixed usage.
Battery test results:
- Video playback: 15+ hours
- Web browsing: 10-12 hours
- Gaming: 5-6 hours
- Mixed usage: Full day (6 AM to 10 PM)
Charging is slow by Android standards. The 20W wired charging takes about 30 minutes to reach 50% and about 90 minutes for a full charge. MagSafe wireless charging is available at 15W.
Software - iOS 18
The iPhone 16e runs iOS 18, which brings new customization options, improved Messages app, and enhanced privacy features. iOS is clean, intuitive, and receives 5+ years of OS updates - a major advantage over Android phones.
Connectivity
The iPhone 16e features USB-C (finally!), 5G support, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC for Apple Pay.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons | A18 chip (incredible performance) | 60Hz display (outdated at this price) | 48MP main camera with great photo quality | Slow charging (20W) | Excellent video recording | No charger included in box | 5+ years of iOS updates | Battery life is just average | USB-C port | Still no telephoto camera |
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Comparison with Competitors
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 costs about 10,000 BDT more. For that extra money, you get the Dynamic Island, slightly better cameras, and a more premium finish. The iPhone 16e has the newer A18 chip (vs A16 in iPhone 15).
Verdict: If budget is tight, the 16e is good value. If you can spend more, the iPhone 15 offers a more modern experience.
iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
The Galaxy S25 FE costs about the same (75,000-80,000 BDT) but offers a 120Hz AMOLED display, telephoto camera, faster charging, and 4 years of OS updates. The iPhone offers better performance (A18 vs Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3), better video recording, and longer software support (5+ years).
Verdict: Choose iPhone for performance and video. Choose Samsung for display refresh rate and camera versatility.
Who Should Buy the iPhone 16e
- Apple ecosystem users: Seamless integration with Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch
- Users who want the best performance: A18 chip is incredibly powerful
- Video creators: iPhone has the best video recording
- Users who keep phones for 4-5 years: Long-term iOS updates
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Users who want a 120Hz display: Samsung Galaxy S25 FE or OnePlus 12R
- Users who want faster charging: Any Android flagship with 65W+ charging
- Budget-conscious users: Android phones offer better value at 30,000-50,000 BDT
Final Verdict
The iPhone 16e is the best entry point into the Apple ecosystem for Bangladeshi users who want a new iPhone. The A18 chip provides flagship-level performance, the camera system is excellent for photos and videos, and iOS remains the most polished mobile OS. However, the 60Hz display and slow charging are disappointing at this price point. If you can live with those compromises, the iPhone 16e is a solid choice. If you want a smoother display or faster charging, consider the Galaxy S25 FE or wait for a sale on the iPhone 15.
Rating: 8.8/10
Price: 79,999 BDT (128GB)
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Does the iPhone 16e have a 120Hz display?
Answer: No, it has a 60Hz display. Only the Pro models have 120Hz ProMotion.
Question 2: Does it have MagSafe?
Answer: Yes, the iPhone 16e supports MagSafe for wireless charging and accessories.
Question 3: Is the iPhone 16e waterproof?
Answer: It has an IP68 rating, meaning it can survive submersion in up to 6 meters of water for 30 minutes.
Question 4: Does it come with a charger?
Answer: No, only a USB-C cable is included. You'll need to buy a 20W or higher USB-C charger separately.
Question 5: Is it better than the iPhone SE 3?
Answer: Yes, significantly. The 16e has a larger modern display, better cameras, and much better battery life.