Apple Debuts iPhone 16e

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

New C1 Modem & Connectivity

  • Most technically minded comments focus on the Apple C1, the first in‑house cellular modem.
  • Seen as a huge strategic move to escape Qualcomm’s “tax”, improve margins, and eventually integrate modem, Wi‑Fi, and Bluetooth into the SoC for power and space savings.
  • Some speculate 16e is a lower‑risk “test mule” to gather real‑world telemetry before putting C1 into flagships.
  • Security hopes: cleaner, possibly memory‑safe firmware vs historically vulnerable basebands, but some warn first‑gen modems can have teething issues.
  • Many hope this paves the way for cellular MacBooks; others note tethering is “good enough” but inconvenient and battery‑hungry.

Camera & “2x Optical” Debate

  • Strong skepticism that the “integrated 2x Telephoto” is a true moving zoom lens.
  • Consensus in the thread: it’s a 12 MP crop from a 48 MP sensor (like other recent iPhones), so resolution is maintained but noise and depth‑of‑field differ from real optics.
  • Photographers object to marketing that blurs the line between optical zoom and crop, calling it misleading.

Battery Life & Hardware Tradeoffs

  • 26 hours video playback on a 6.1" phone draws praise; Apple attributes it to C1, new internals, and iOS 18 power management.
  • Others think the gains come mostly from a larger battery, non‑LTPO 60 Hz display, and simpler hardware (no MagSafe ring, fewer cameras).
  • Debate over the real impact of modem efficiency vs battery size; final capacities are still unofficial.

Size, SE Replacement & Death of Small Phones

  • 16e effectively replaces the SE at a higher price and much larger footprint; small‑phone fans are openly disappointed.
  • Long nostalgic thread about the 4"/first‑gen SE and 12/13 mini; many vow to keep their minis “until they die”.
  • Counterpoint: minis reportedly accounted for only ~3% of iPhone sales; several argue that, at Apple scale, that niche doesn’t justify unique tooling and engineering.

Pricing, Value & Segmentation

  • $599 price (128 GB) widely viewed as too high for what was expected to be an “SE 4”; comparison to used iPhone 14/15 or Android “a‑series” phones comes up often.
  • Apple is seen as aggressively segmenting:
    • 16e: single camera, no UWB, no MagSafe/Qi2, USB 2, 60 Hz, binned A18 GPU
    • 16: adds ultrawide, MagSafe/Qi2, UWB, Dynamic Island
    • Pro: 120 Hz, triple camera, higher transfer speeds, premium materials
  • Some praise the value as a long‑lived, modern “budget” iPhone; others say the real budget tier is old models via carriers or refurb.

Touch ID, SIM, and Other Removals

  • 16e and the SE’s disappearance mark another step away from Touch ID and small bezelled bodies; many older or masked users lament the loss.
  • In the US, all current iPhones are now eSIM‑only; some travelers see this as a serious regression in flexibility.
  • Lack of MagSafe is a sore point for users heavily invested in MagSafe chargers and mounts.

AI & Ecosystem Direction

  • Some see 16e as the new floor for Apple Intelligence‑capable phones, correcting years of low‑RAM devices.
  • Mixed feelings on on‑device AI: some want it, some want to “turn off the slop,” others argue phones are too weak for serious local models and that heavier work should live on Macs or in Apple’s private cloud.