If you're looking for your first iPhone, this could be it

The iPhone 16e is pricier than the erstwhile entry-level iPhone SE. So are the trade-offs, and the savings, worth it?

- Tushar Kanwar

The design, a safe blend of iPhones past, most closely resembles the iPhone 14, both in dimensions and the inclusion of the notch atop the display. Gone are the ancient home button and the thick top and bottom bezels, replaced by Face ID and a 6.1-inch OLED display that (finally!) brings Apple's entry-level phone into the modern, all-screen age. On the rear, there's a single camera set on the matte glass back, and while I bemoan the lack of colors, both the white and the black units are classier looking than past monochromatic iPhones.

The aluminum frame feels sturdy in the hand and you get IP68 dust and water protection, although the Ceramic Shield display protection is one generation older than the current iPhone 16. Just like the iPhone 16 though, you get the customizable Action Button which can be used to invoke the camera, change focus modes or launch Visual Intelligence (coming via a software update soon). The 16e also gets USB-C charging, bringing it in line with Apple's latest models, a welcome change for anyone tired of juggling different cables. Bear in mind, with its 6.1-inch display, the 16e is essentially the same size as the current iPhone 16, and with the SE discontinued, the days of truly small iPhones are over.