Is the Apple iPhone 16e Apple's "e"ffortless entry into affordability?

A18 is doing all the lifting here

It’s February and Apple's just dropped a new iPhone, and it's not quite what we expected. Say hello to the iPhone 16e, a device that aims to bring flagship features to a slightly less eye-watering price point. Is it a game-changer, or just a clever bit of "e"conomical engineering? Let's dive in.

Apple's clearly aiming for the sweet spot here. The 16e boasts the A18 chip, which means it should be nippy enough for most tasks, along with the much-hyped Apple Intelligence. Think clever photo editing, Siri that actually understands you, and even ChatGPT integration.  Privacy buffs, take note: Apple's banging on about its Private Cloud Compute, which sounds like a fancy way of saying your data's safe.

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There’s only one camera at the rear. A 48MP Fusion camera, which according to Apple means it's like having two cameras in one. We'll have to put that to the test, but the promise of improved low-light shots and a 2x telephoto is tempting. Battery life? Apple's claiming it's the best ever for a 6.1-inch iPhone. Big talk, but if true, it could be a major selling point.

Of course, there's the usual Apple fanfare – Ceramic Shield, splash resistance, and all that jazz. They're even shouting about a new cellular modem, the C1, which they've designed themselves. Apparently, it's super power-efficient, which ties in nicely with that battery life claim.

So, the big question: is it worth your hard-earned cash? Well, it's certainly packing an impressive processor but only one camera at the back and the old iPhone notch in the front could be all that glamorous. If you're after a top-notch iPhone experience without the top-tier price tag, the 16e starts from ₹59,900 for 128GB, ₹69,900 for 256GB, and ₹89,900 for 512GB storage capacities.