iPhone 16e teardown: What makes Apple's new entry-level device so special
Apple's long-awaited SE 3 successor is here. A look inside reveals differences to the iPhone 14, the starting point.
iPhone 14 (left) vs. 16e: comparison of the motherboards.
(Image: REWA Technology / Screenshot YouTube)
No matter how you look at the iPhone 16e, anyone familiar with the iPhone 14 will experience déjà vu: the form factor has been almost completely carried over from Apple's 2022 smartphone. Nevertheless, there are numerous changes to the inner workings, as a first teardown by the Hong Kong repair company Rewa, which was published on YouTube, shows. Among other things, it shows the missing MagSafe, a modified motherboard and the brand new C1 radio chip and transceiver unit.
Space for a larger battery
Apple had already advertised that the 16e has a good battery life. This is not only due to the fact that the C1 interacts directly with the A18 processor, but also because of the larger battery. This is almost 13 percent larger than the iPhone 16 – 4005 mAh instead of 3561 mAh at the same volt value. Here too, the battery can be easily removed using Apple's new current-based removal technology.
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When it comes to the screen, Apple apparently uses the standard shelf: Rewa managed to operate an iPhone 16e screen in an iPhone 14 without any error messages. The proprietary connector is the same for both models. This could make it easier to repair display defects because iPhone 14 screens are widely available in good quality. However, you will probably also get screen technology that is three years old – At least Apple has not provided any information on changes.
Borrowings from iPhone 14 and 15
According to the teardown, the internal design of the iPhone 16e is apparently more closely based on the iPhone 15 than the iPhone 14. The lack of MagSafe is easy to spot – There is an inductive charging coil, but no magnets. The front camera of the 16e looks very much like the iPhone 14, which also lacks Dynamic Island.
The C1 is part of the motherboard. The component distribution is less compact than in models with a Qualcomm radio chip. The A18 sits deeper in the circuit board, which makes it more difficult to replace –, which is only offered by specialist providers who do not have Apple repair authorization –. Overall, Rewa rates the repairability of the 16e as satisfactory. Screen and battery removal are easier, and there are no differences between the cameras and previous models. The motherboard is easier to open, the A18 itself is more difficult to repair.
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