Being the latest yet smallest of the bunch, the iPhone 16e is the spiritual successor to the SE and mini series of iPhones released prior. Intended as an entry level device, it still manages to rock out with the latest hardware specs however it’s hardware redesign poised for a bumped MSRP. This isn’t a budget phone anymore though.. it just happens to be the cheapest iPhone.

This is the very first Apple device to ever ship with a C1 modem, something the company has been working on for quite a long time. The main benefits are better battery life and increased 5G performance over the Qualcomms.

With the redesign the 16e joins the ripple-effect started by the 2018 iPad Pro, whose design aesthetics spread across to all other iOS devices including entry level iPads, the iPad Air, etc. There is also now more space engineered on the inside for the battery, and the batteries are removable using a low-voltage electrical current to make it easier than previous generations.

Apple Intelligence

iOS devices running 18 and later with an A17 Pro chip or better (iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, or all iPhone 16 models+). While device capability has increased over the years, it’s theorized by some that older devices don’t have enough RAM to properly run Apple Intelligence. This feature is slowly rolling as AI is new to the industry as a whole.

What You Need to Know

• Phone does not have fast wireless charging, but has 7.5W Qi Wireless. You can still get a MagSafe case.
• The USB-C port is USB 2.0 only, not USB 3.0.
• The screen has a 60 Hz refresh rate
• Phone has IP68 water resistance
• Not the brightest display in direct sun
• This chip is a binned A18 with 1 less GPU core, but differences will be negligible.
• Only available in Black or White.
• Phone lacks Wifi 6E/y and Ultra Wideband for AirTags/precision guidance
• Phone has: Emergency SOS/Text/Find-My/roadside assistance via satellite, and crash detection.
  .
• It is a 48 MP camera however the sensor is much smaller than on iPhone 16 Pro cameras. Pictures will look and feel different than what’s taken on Dual-lens and Tri-Lens iPhones.
  • (No: Cinematic mode, Spatial video, macros)

Details

• Announced February 19th, 2025
  • Available February 28th, 2025
    .
• Apple model number: A3212 (USA) EMC 8725
  • • MD0E4LL/A (White, 128 GB, US)
    • MD0G4LL/A (White, 256 GB, US)
    • MD0Q4LL/A (White, 512 GB, US)
    • MD0D4LL/A (Black, 128 GB, US)
    • MD0F4LL/A (Black, 256 GB, US)
    • MD0J4LL/A (Black, 512 GB, US)
      .
  • A3409 (Global) EMC 8727
    • Order numbers vary by country.
    • MD1R4QN/A (White, 128 GB, UK)
    • MD1W4QN/A (White, 256 GB, UK)
    • MD274QN/A (White, 512 GB, UK)
    • MD1Q4QN/A (Black, 128 GB, UK)
    • MD1T4QN/A (Black, 256 GB, UK)
    • MD1X4QN/A (Black, 512 GB, UK)
      .
  • A3410 (China) EMC 8728
  • A3408 (Canada, Mexico, South America) EMC 8726
    .
• Model ID: iPhone17,5

iOS

• Requires iOS 18.3.1 (Build 22D8075) or later

Core System

Legend: L1i = L1 Instruction Cache, L1d = L1 Data cache, SLC = System Level Cache

• L1 Per-performance core: 192KB L1i, 128KB L1d
• L1 Per-efficiency core: 128 KB L1i, 64 KB L1d
  .
• A18 ($599): 6 Cores, 2x 4.05 GHz “A18” High Performance Cores: 384K L1i, 256K  L1d, ~16 MB L2*
  • 4x 2.85 GHz “A18” energy efficient cores: 512K L1i, 256K L1d, 16MB L2*
  • 3 nm fabrication process
• 16-Core Neural Engine

Memory

•  A18: 8 GB 3750 MHz LPDDR5X-7500 SDRAM, 60 GB/s theoretical bandwidth

Video

• Apple A18 4-Core GPU with Metal, @ 1490 MHz Core Clock (~24,000 GB6)

Display

• Super Retina XDR OLED: 6.1″ (Diagonally), 91.4 cm2 (Surface area), 87.1% STB Ratio
  • 1170 x 2532 resolution, 457 ppi, 19.5:9 aspect ratio with Ceramic Shield Glass
  • 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 800 nits standard, 1200 nits HDR content only
  • Wide Color (P3) gamut, Haptic Touch support

Drives

• Drive bus: PCIe (4.0?)-based NVMe, 1 GB/s+
  • 128 GB – ($599 or $24.95/24mo)
  • 256 GB – ($699 or $29.12/24mo)
  • 512 GB – ($899 or $37.45/24mo)
    .
• Prices in 2025 USD.

Camera

• Rear – Facing: 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55″, 0.7µm
  • 2x LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama, spatial 3D, 10x digital
  • Video: 4K@24 – 60fps, 1080p@25 – 240fps, Dolby, stereo, OIS
    .
• Front – Facing: 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6″, 1.0µm
  • 3D depth + biometric sensor for Face-ID, HDR, panorama, spatial 3D
  • 4K@24 – 60fps, 1080p@25 – 120fps

Sound

• Built-in stereo speakers
• Built-in Microphones

Battery

• 4005 mAh Lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Up to 26 hours of video playback local, 21 hours if streamed
  • Up to 90 hours of Audio playback
  • Charge up to 50% in 30-min w/20w+ charging brick

Expansion / Misc

• 1x USB-C style USB 2.0 port (Up to 480 Mb/s)
• 1x Wireless Qi 7.5w charging spot in the center-rear
• WiFi 6.0
• Bluetooth 5.3
• 5G w/Apple C1 modem (Millimeter wave unavailable)

Included Peripherals

• iPhone 16e (In your color and storage of choice)
• Braided “FineWoven” USB-C to USB-C style USB 2.0 cable
• Introductory papers and documentation
  • “You don’t need to activate your SIM card” eSim paper
  • iPhone booklet

Physical

• Size (H x W x D): 5.78″ x 2.81″ x 0.31″, (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.80 mm)
• Weight: 5.88 Oz (167 grams)

See More

• Tech Specs on: EveryMac, GSMArena, Apple’s website