iPhone 16th: a funny patchwork between several generations

Commercially available since last week, the iPhone 16e is an amazing smartphone that bridges the gap between several generations of iPhone. It takes the design of the iPhone 14, but integrates technologies from the iPhone 16, such as the wide-angle photo sensor or the A18 chip (in a less powerful version, however).

The technical compromises of the iPhone 16e

The iPhone 16e also skips MagSafe, allowing Apple to shave three francs six sous on the component bill. The manufacturer did try to explain the reason for this withdrawal, without being very convincing. We will see in the coming months whether this very special iPhone model will be able to create a niche for itself.

Repairers already have a little idea of what this iPhone 16 is made of. iFixit has carried out its traditional teardown, which confirms the "Frankenstein's monster" aspect of the device. On one side, we find the battery that separates from the chassis by simple electrical impulse, a technology inaugurated with the iPhone 16 and 16Plus. No more impossible-to-remove adhesives that risk damaging the fragile component!

The battery of the iPhone 16e displays a capacity of 15.55Wh, which is more impressive than the 13.83Wh of the iPhone 16. The single photo sensor leaves room for a larger battery. What we gain in repairability with this component, we lose on the other hand with the USB-C port, accessible only after having disassembled the entire smartphone. A legacy of the iPhone 14 structure, according to iFixit.

The teardown also allows us to take a look at the famous C1 modem that is so important to Apple. It is located on the inside of the RF board, with a structure similar to that of Qualcomm's X71M modem. The C1 combines a 4nm modem and DRAM memory; the transceivers (transmitters/receivers), engraved in 7nm, are not included in the package.

Ultimately, and despite the difficult access to the USB-C port, the iPhone 16th gets a repairability rating of quite respectable 7 out of 10. The smartphone is making "progress" in terms of repair, for example with the presence of a metal support which avoids cutting a flexible cable when opening the device, or even on the decline of the practice of pairing components with iOS.