iPhone 16e tech specs: what’s inside?

19 August 2025

2 mins read

Haziq

Tech Expert for Back Market UK, Ireland & Australia

Apple’s most affordable new smartphone is the iPhone 16e, which offers a modern iPhone experience, including the latest chip and AI tricks, but costs slightly less than other iPhone models. According to Apple, this model is one of the many “economical” iPhones to come. It follows in the footsteps of the iPhone SE, and like the SE, it does everything we’ve come to expect from a quality smartphone and does it well. It offers a stunning design, excellent performance, extended battery life, and the usual iOS perks, including FaceTime. But with a budget model, there are going to be trade-offs. The iPhone 16e loses MagSafe charging, Dynamic Island, the ultrawide camera, and the highest band of 5G connectivity. However, it still offers excellent features. Here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone 16e’s price, release date, screen size, colours, and more.

iPhone 16e specs summary  

The iPhone 16e features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 60 Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, you have the Apple A18 (3 nm) chip powering the device, and other specs include a 4005 mAh battery and a single camera at the back. The iPhone 16e was released on February 28, 2025.  

  • iPhone 16e

    Release date: 2025, February 28 

    Back Market price: £522.00* 

    Price of new: £599.00* 

    Savings: £77.00 (12% off)*

    *Back Market prices taken at the date of publication – these are subject to change. 

    Display: Size: 6.1 in, Resolution: 2532 x 1170 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio, 457 ppi, Technology: OLED Refresh rate: 60Hz
    Peak brightness: 1200 nits
    Display features: Super Retina XDR, HDR display, True Tone, Wide color (P3), Haptic Touch, Oleophobic coating, Scratch-resistant glass (Ceramic Shield), Display Zoom
    Hardware: Chip: Apple A18 (3 nm), GPU: Apple 4-core GPU, Memory (RAM): 8GB, Storage: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB, Operating system: iOS 18
    Battery: Capacity: 4005 mAh, Type: Li-Ion, Charging: Fast charging, Qi wireless charging, Video playback: Up to 26 hours, Video playback (streamed): Up to 21 hours, Audio playback: Up to 90 hours (about 8 days)
    Charging speed: Wired: 20W (up to 50% in 30 minutes), Wireless: 7.5W
    Rear camera: Lens: 48MP (OIS, Autofocus)
    Features: Dual-LED dual-tone flash, Panorama, HDR, 3D audio, Night mode, Photonic Engine, Deep Fusion, Portrait mode with Depth Control, Photographic Styles, Advanced red‑eye correction, Auto image stabilization, Digital zoom up to 10x, Burst mode
    Video recording: 4K (UHD) Dolby Vision recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, 1080p (Full HD) Dolby Vision recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, 720p Dolby Vision recording at 30 fps, Slow‑mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps
    Video recording features: OIS, Continuous autofocus, Picture-taking during video recording, Cinematic mode, Time‑lapse video with stabilization, Night mode Time-lapse, QuickTake video
    Video recording features: Digital zoom up to 6x, Audio zoom, True Tone flash, Cinematic video stabilization, 3D audio, Stereo recording, Wind noise reduction, Audio Mix
    Video recording (front camera): 4K (UHD) Dolby Vision recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, 1080p (Full HD) Dolby Vision recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, Slow-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps
    Design and build: Dimensions: 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 in (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm), Weight: 5.88 oz (167.0 g), Materials: Glass rear, Aluminum frame, Dust/water resistance: IP68, Biometrics: 3D Face unlock, Keys: Lock/Unlock key, Volume control, Action button
    Colors: Black, White
    Multimedia: 3.5mm headphone jack: No, Speakers: Earpiece, Built-in stereo speakers, Extra microphones: Noise cancellation, Screen mirroring: Wireless screen share
    Network: Technology: GSM, HSPA+, LTE, 5G, Data speed: LTE-A, HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, SIM type: eSIM
    Connectivity: Bluetooth: 5.3, Wi-Fi: 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac, ax (Wi-Fi 6), MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot, USB: Type-C (reversible), USB 2.0 (up to 480Mb/s), Sensors: Compass, Barometer, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity sensor, Dual ambient light sensors
    Hearing aid compatible: M3/T4
    Other: Apple Pay, Apple Card, Face ID, NFC, Ultra Wideband (UWB), Emergency SOS, Messages via satellite, Find My via satellite, Crash detection, Roadside Assistance via satellite
    Location: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, and NavIC, Wi‑Fi, Cellular, Digital compass, iBeacon micro-location
    Accessibility features: Live Speech, Type to Vocal Shortcuts, Eye Tracking, Voice Control, Switch Control, AssistiveTouch, VoiceOver, Zoom, Magnifier, Personal Voice, RTT and TTY support, Closed Captions, Live Captions, Spoken Content

Why buying refurbished is better than buying new 

You have the option of buying the iPhone 16e new or refurbished. Opting for a refurbished model over a new one is a win for both your wallet and the world. At Back Market, we sell Verified Refurbished devices. These are devices that have been professionally restored by industry experts to provide premium performance. Each device is thoroughly inspected, repaired, cleaned, and tested before being resold at budget-friendly prices (usually 20% to 50% off the price of new). Every purchase includes a 1-year warranty and a 30-day return period for added peace of mind. But opting for refurbished isn’t just about saving money; it’s also about making an eco-conscious choice.  

Opting for a refurbished device helps to reduce e-waste generation by extending the life of a device that might otherwise end up in a landfill. Refurbished devices also conserve resources and lower carbon emissions associated with producing new devices. With more refurbished devices in the market, resources that would otherwise be used to manufacture new phones are conserved, and the carbon emissions from manufacturing are eliminated entirely. In the end, you not only get a fantastic phone for a great price, but you also contribute to a more sustainable planet.  

Do your bit for the planet – buy a refurbished iPhone 16e instead of new, and save up to 62KG in CO2 emissions. Your wallet will be happy too! 

Written by Haziq, Tech Expert for Back Market UK, Ireland & Australia

When not fighting the good fight for environmental sustainability, Haziq loves making reviews of everything and anything tech-related.

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