(Image source from: Appleinsider.com)
Earlier this month, Apple introduced the iPhone 16e, which is now available for purchase in India and around the world as of Friday. This device features the newest A18 chip and incorporates Apple Intelligence, yet it lacks several functionalities present in the latest iPhone iterations, including Dynamic Island, MagSafe, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) connectivity. Apple recently detailed its reasoning for omitting support for MagSafe, its wireless charging standard that works with various third-party accessories, in this model. Reviewer John Gruber pointed out the absence of MagSafe on the iPhone 16e as a significant hardware drawback, alongside the lack of UWB connectivity that allows for precise tracking of AirTags and similar devices.
According to Gruber, Apple representatives conveyed that the typical users targeted by the iPhone 16e rarely utilize MagSafe. These users tend to favor cable charging (the new model is equipped with a USB Type-C port instead of the previous Lightning port) and occasionally rely on the older Qi charging standard, which is compatible with this latest device. Without MagSafe, iPhone 16e users can only achieve a maximum charging speed of 7.5W with a Qi charger, whereas the higher-end models — the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro — support faster wireless charging at 15W and 25W through MagSafe.
MagSafe has provided users with the convenience of securely attaching the wireless charging puck to the back of an iPhone since the iPhone 12, thanks to its magnetic design. Over the last five years, MagSafe accessories have become widely adopted, and Apple has also introduced features like Standby Mode, which allows users to view essential information on their devices while the phone charges horizontally. In the Indian market, the starting price for the iPhone 16e is Rs. 59,900 for the entry-level variant with 128GB of storage. The more feature-rich iPhone 15, released in 2023, is priced at Rs. 69,900 on Apple’s platform, whereas the iPhone 16 is listed at Rs. 79,900. However, these models are often available at discounted rates, currently priced at Rs. 61,499 and Rs. 72,400 on Amazon, respectively.
