Re-reviewing Apple’s iPhone 16e ‘budget’ smartphone in 2026, one year post-launch. The iPhone 17e is just around the corner perhaps, but here’s how the 16e holds up – camera tech, battery life, gaming chops and beyond. Of course, as this is a Tech Spurt Weekly, there’s a wee twist: I can only say positive things.
My original iPhone 16e review is still up if you want a more ranty take (an exceptionally ranty take actually, I was in a really bad mood after using it for a full week).
Here’s hoping that the 17e launch means the iPhone 16e plummets in price, because at around £300 it wouldn’t be a bad smartphone. The battery life is still great for a deliciously compact mobile, while performance is good (albeit slightly juddery when gaming on more demanding titles). You’ll enjoy four more years of iOS updates, which is reasonable, and here’s hoping the next one is a bit less buggy!
Have you been using the iPhone 16e this past year? Let us know your troubles below, and we’ll bestow our greatest sympathies on the next episode!
iPhone 16e Long Term 2026 Review Chapters:
0:00 – iPhone 16e, but happy
7:09 – Viewer comments
14:32 – Next week
Well this was a bloody eiffing review. And it is all because of the reviewer.
I got it just as a second work phone. One I can use for pics and data logging. My main primary is a galaxy s24
I bought one recently in Australia for $700 AUD brand new (366 GBP). It's a great phone for the non-techies. If you've never had the high end extras, you won't miss them.
Getting it this week!
I got mine it $99 USD fresh out the box. Been a great phone so far.
I’ve been stuck on the SE 2020 for five long years, no matter what the internet people say I’m probably getting it because it’s an upgrade in every way
I was never going to upgrade from my XR. The photo and video is still very good on it, but I cracked the back glass. I epoxied it, but I think it’s time to upgrade before I am forced to.
Got my iPhone 16E for $345 on amazon best purchase everrr. Instead of $650 on Apple
if you pay 600 bucks you are a dingleberry. I got this phone for free with purchase of 3 months service with cricket. the 3 months cost 180 total and after the 3 months you can change plans to the 25 buck a month plan (which is what I pay now with visible).
so 180 minus ($75 I would have had to pay with visible over that period)
$105 bucks im no apple fan boy but find me a $105 phone that's someone decent I'll wait…
😂only good for a min.
I had one of those for a month
It was shite
It never connected to 4g data etc.
I got onto Apple Support who tried to fix it. No Joy
It met its end when it just pissed me off once too often.
I placed it carefully on a concrete wall and thrashed it to bits with a house brick.
I instantly felt so much better
The aids joke had me cackling 🤣
I think Sheffield Wednesday will win the league
I use ios and I still say no one should buy the 16e – it's only for companies to save a chunk of cash when bulk purchasing. At least the 17e comes with 256GB base storage. Just waiting for Google to catch up to this storage approach to temp me away from my Moto to a Pixel. 😉
At £449 it's not too bad. There's constant offers at that price now that the 17e is out.
Anyone have clarification on which games won't install on the 16e? I can't see that being a hardware issue it only has one less GPU core and lower models don't have an issue. At MSRP maybe not worth it but right now its $130-150 new on promotions, seems well worth it. I just replaced the battery on my 13 pro and have no problems so seeing the 16e get trashed to this level seems extreme.
I'm from Portugal, I like your videos, I don't know why? 🤔😂 But this week I've been very busy with lots of work, lots of videos, it's almost like you're making videos before World War III starts or something worse 🤣😅🤣
if you can get it used under 300. got mine's black friday with 100% battery
Given that it's a Iphone it's complete rubbish and by no means a viable choice when looking for a more budget friendly alternative 😂
Some genuine laugh out loud moments, in particular, on this vid. 😀
This is certainly the best review I've ever seen. Such positivity a man has never encountered
not trying to be weird but you have a beautiful family!
only be positive? i thought this video would be much shorter.
While I'm being forced to use an iPhone SE as my work phone, my colleagues have all received an iPhone 16e as an 'upgrade'…Based on their feedback, I'm 'keen' to stick with the SE. How this company actually functions, whilst providing its employees with the 2 worst mobile phones ever to exist is beyond me…it's actually more confusing than how Steir Karmer is still a 'Prime' Minister.
He gets paid for this nonsense.
It's definitely positive. Positively hilarious! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Mongs 😂
I think Motorola edge 70 fusion will be your favorite phone. It gonna be great
Now you’re on Apple’s whitelist for sure 😂
It’s £499 on Amazon at the time of writing (not £599) for the 128 Gb model. It’s still the higher price on Apples official site though!
Bought 4 of these for less than $400. 3 of them were 256gb because I got a prepaid carrier discount. Typing the comment on it now with no complaints 🤷🏾♂️ but I will also say this is a backup device. I still use a fold 7 and Oneplus 13 as my main devices though
Can you make a review of the asus vivobook s14 please?
No comment on former-known-as-prince Andrew, the real Fredo in a family of Fredos?
Got mine for $80 for switching carriers, switched from the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus. Haven’t had an iPhone for a decade, but needed a new phone my Samsung was a banged up and the battery was bad. Don’t care for the smaller screen size but it does what I need it to do, I’m still getting used to Apple, but it’s fine.
My mom bought the 16e republished for $350 with 100% battery heath and about 120 charge cycles its an absolute blast of a deal. She only really uses for video calls and facebook and with the amount of software updates promised to it, its a alot of phone for the money.
Where does he get his wallpapers from? Anybody know?
It all depends on the Price! On Sale this is a steal for 256GB. But regular pricing, pass.
This phone has A18 bionic chip so it is future proof
This phone is not feasible for everyone I have been using it for couple of moths and it’s great for me I was using iPhone 7 so yeah good upgrade for me but why did not I pay the price to get 16 16 plus 16 pro 16 pro max 17 17 pro 17 pro max
In turkey you have to break the bank in order to buy an iPhone for example I paid 43.999TL = 1000$ almost with taxes and stuf original price was 599 some can find it 300$ in USA
Higher models are much more expensive
Example 17 pro max is around
120.000TL = 3000$ almost
Minimum wage is 28.000tl in turkey
Avarage wage is around 35.000-40.000tl every body around me using iPhone 11 and keep using it because the price for an brand new iPhone is ridiculous 😢 so yeah this phone is not for USA people or who have money this phone is for poor countries
Every time I consider buying an iPhone I watch a Tech Spurt video and come back to my senses.