Apple’s new iPhone 16e is here. What does it have going for it? Honestly, nothing much. We want to say price, but at $599 we find it hard to recommend it to anyone, unless they absolutely have to own an iPhone but don’t want to pay for the base iPhone 16 model. However, if your mind is set on getting the iPhone 16e, then maybe watch this durability test to find out if you should invest in a case for it.
iPhone 16e’s durability test
YouTuber JerryRigEverything recently conducted a durability test on the iPhone 16e. While it is slightly cheaper than the base iPhone 16, it doesn’t look like Apple skimped on the materials. For instance, in the scratch test, Apple’s Ceramic Shield display held up pretty well.
Faint scratch marks appeared at level 6, while deeper grooves became more obvious at level 7. For context, this is similar to the iPhone 16. The iPhone 16e is made using aluminum, so it scratches pretty quickly and easily. However, note that the titanium used in the iPhone 16 Pro doesn’t exactly hold up that well either. JerryRigEverything’s previous test found that the PVD coating on the titanium body scratched just as easily as anodized aluminum.
Now, titanium is more durable compared to aluminum, but that doesn’t mean that the iPhone 16e is “weak.” In the bending test, the iPhone 16e seemed to hold up just as well as its more expensive siblings. It’s not exactly a scientific process, but at least you can rest assured that the iPhone 16e will not bring another “bendgate” controversy for the Cupertino company.
Worth it?
Overall, the latest “affordable” iPhone holds its own pretty well in the durability test. This means that at the very least, we know that you’ll be getting a solidly built phone even though you’re paying less. Does this make the iPhone 16e value for money? At $599, it is $200 cheaper compared to the iPhone 16.
Also, a recent teardown by iFixit earned it a decent repairability score. However, you will be giving up quite a number of features in the process. But if you just want an iPhone, it could still be a good buy.
