So… I swapped my iPhone 16 Pro for the iPhone 16e.
The internet, predictably, lost its mind 😂
Apparently, this move officially qualifies me for a flock membership card. No MagSafe. 60Hz display. No ultra-wide camera. Who would do this on purpose?
Well… me 🙋🏼♂️
You see, I really wanted to hate this phone. Truly. I had the script ready. The talking points loaded. But then I did something dangerous — I used it. Like, actually used it. SIM card in. Daily driver. No fallback.
And two weeks later, here we are.
Turns out, the 16e might just be the most interesting iPhone this year. Not because it’s better than the Pro — it’s absolutely not. But because it quietly nails two things that Apple barely mentioned:
📡 C1 chip = best signal I’ve ever had on an iPhone
We’re talking no dropped calls in dead zones, I’ve memorized.
Faster data. Smoother handoffs. It’s like the phone actually knows what matters — and acts accordingly.
🔋 Battery life that doesn’t make sense
Used to end my day in the red. Now? I sometimes go to bed with 70% left.
No cheating. No airplane mode. Just real-life usage — CarPlay, Waze, calls, photos.
It’s kinda bonkers.
Of course, it’s still an entry-level iPhone. No ProMotion. Dimmer display. Camera’s just okay. But here’s the thing — I don’t regret the switch.
And if you want to know why… you’ll want to watch this one 👇🏻
What’s new
Dropped something clean in the store this week.
VisionDeck — a slick little widget that packs your schedule, weather, and battery info into a single, swipeable panel.
Three views. One elegant design.
If you like your home screen spicy (and want to support the channel), it’s live now:
As much as I usually align with you on all you technological choices, I cannot force my eyes into anything but a large screen flagship. Not that I don't get you - both my wife and my daughter made the choice of the iPhone 16, no Pro even, whereas I am on the iPhone 16 Pro ax and the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
There is so much more to lose for me aside from the Magsafe and the good screen, Iskrene! No battery life can warrant the change for me, not at the moment.
Now does that mean that I need to have the maximum of every device? I don't think so - I use both my iPad Pro and my iPad mini.
If my job wouldn't warrant the excessive use of all this technology and warrant the investment, I believe I would have been perfectly happy with my iPad mini. Same as when years ago when the MacBook 12" came out and everyone was complaining how underpowered it it was, all I saw was its keyboard, that I like so much and the light weight, so any device has its own set of advantages. I am simply not sure that I see any in an underpowered not as functional phone. No matter how nice the colors of it are.
Awesome mr E! Thanks again for doing the sacrifice test for all of us. It is very strange that battery lasts that much… but cool! I am still using a 13 mini, so the 60hz refresh display is something I still use (I never had a pro to see the 120hz in action and then dread the 60hz one)