From iPhone to Android and (almost) back again the iPhone 16e failed to lure me back to iOS

Date:
Sat, 15 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Description:
After using Samsung and Google phones for three years, Ive picked up an
iPhone again heres what I thought about going back to Apple with the iPhone 16e.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

I spent nearly a decade with iPhones until I switched to the Google Pixel 6a in 2022, and have not looked back. Android sucked me in. But I was curious about how the Apple experience has changed since I left, so I decided to go back to iOS with the iPhone 16e .

Apple's latest is the exact iPhone I wanted three years ago, leaps and bounds ahead of the iPhone SE it replaces. Its not a 'budget' phone, but its far
from being a flagship, too.

Among its rivals, it holds up exceptionally well in benchmarks, but has significant tradeoffs compared to some phones that are half its price.

Having been out of Camp Apple for so long, Ive seen what its like on the
other side and coming back, Im both impressed and puzzled with the hands-on experience. (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

There is an assured certainty and comfort when the manufacturer has complete control over an ecosystem ie, having hardware, software, cloud and content management (via apps like Home and Music) talk to each other seamlessly. And when this comes from Cupertino, it's more about the experience rather than
the performance of the device.

Its also why the Google Pixel range remains my most recommended Android
family of devices, and that's despite Samsung offering better tech on all fronts and at all price points Googles range feels more like Apple. The Pixels feel more mastered and uniform: again, because it's about the experience rather than the performance.

The iPhone 16e makes the experience more accessible than the standard range, offering shaved-off specs at a lower (but still considerable) price.

So turning to the iPhone 16e, knowing how comfortable Ive gotten with the Android ecosystem, Im left asking if this is enough. Many of the spec choices are baffling, but others are still ones that I wish more Android
manufacturers would learn from. An Androiders take on the iPhone 16e (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Im impressed with how well Apple continues to make all this stuff simply work together from FaceID biometrics to allowing purchases and app downloads, to the instantly recognizable and understandable Home, Lock and Control Center screens, they all make for an experience thats instantly operable.

Performance is in line with the base iPhone 16 (which I consider to be Apples best handset in years) and far ahead of similarly positioned Android phones. It's great for a mixed use of gaming, social media, messaging and note-writing.

Coming from Android, I'm also drawn to the simplicity. The cuteness of FaceTime, the ability to share contacts with a tap of an NFC sensor between iPhones, and the more user-friendly approach to home screen customization (focused on colors instead of palettes) give off a great feeling of coziness. Its cute, it works, and its fun! (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

What on Earth is up with this screen, though? 60Hz on such a pricey unit, and the same goes for the standard iPhone 16. This is grating as I don't like the scrolling and app-opening experience.

That makes the 16 and 16e seem like they perform worse than they do, and look less smooth than much cheaper Androids.

Theres nothing stopping these phones from operating a 120Hz display like the Pro counterparts, apart from Apples unwillingness to provide such screens. It breaks the seamlessness I referred to earlier.

Moving on: something Ive been quite jealous of while using an Android phone has been Apples Action Button. I love the idea of an extra button with customizable functionality, but I'm not sold on its usability. I wish it had more than just a 'hold to open' trigger, but rather more like the stand-by button that works with a single or a double press. (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly/TechRadar)

I still appreciate the Action Button though. An extra physical control on Android handsets would enable so much flexibility, say to quickly open a messaging app, use Google Lens, or quickly pull up your favorite contact
list.

Finally, and this is a gripe specific to the iPhone 16e, but only offering a single camera at this price point feels like a huge step backwards for Apple. There are competing phones available at half the price of this handset that have two lenses, enabling more impressive zoom capabilities or greater detail up close.

Dont get me wrong; the iPhone 16e can produce great photos, but a native zoom that maxes out at 2x is meager compared to what the Pixel 8a and Galaxy A56 are capable of at a lower price point. 'e' is for...

When I first saw this phone's name, I assumed that the 'e' meant 'essential'. There's no official word from Apple on what it means, but I think I may have hit the mark.

Firstly, it's price tag while still expensive, it strips back some non-essentials from the premium range but includes the Apple A18 chip, an
IP68 resistance rating, an extremely impressive 30-hour battery life, and
even Apple-specific features like its advanced biometric FaceID sensor and Action Button. In other words, the 'essentials'. (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

It fits the sweetspot between the now grandfathered SE and the base model 16 more expensive than the former but offering the essentials of the latter, probably filling a crucial marketshare goal. I can absolutely see it being a hit in markets like India, where Apple has only just managed to become one of the countrys top five smartphone brands.

Paradoxically restrictive and freeing, the iPhone 16e is a comfortable phone. Its the right pick if youve been holding out for an entry-level device to upgrade to in the Apple family, but its not great value if youve broken out
of the Apple ecosystem. (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

At this end of the phone market, Apple has the competitive edge on raw benchmarking performance but its rivals are far less expensive with cameras easily outpacing the single lens on the iPhone 16e.

Performance benchmarks be damned, the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Google Pixel 8a feel much more general purpose and suitable for day-to-day use, with more impressive cameras to boot. Not to mention the larger screens on both.

Its an awkward spot for Apple to place such a great phone its more powerful, but its not as practical as cheaper rivals. That said, it will be a brilliant handset to pick up on sale, otherwise its standard price is perhaps a little too high. You might also like... I tested the iPhone 16e for a week and found it's a good phone that stretches the definition of 'budget' New iPhone 17 Air leak may have revealed some key specs and how it compares to the iPhone 17 Pro Max I went hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy A56, and it might just be better value than the Galaxy S25



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/from-iphone-to-android-and-almost-back -again-the-iphone-16e-failed-to-lure-me-back-to-ios


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