The first tests of the iPhone 16e’s cellular performance show promising results. The Chinese review site Geekerwan performed various 5G testing with the iPhone 16e, using a special synthetic cell tower broadcasting inside their lab.
In general, they found the iPhone 16e behaved similarly to the iPhone 16 when it came to cellular connectivity, with comparable speeds and reliability. Meanwhile, Apple’s claims of efficiency also seem to ring true, with Geekerwan measuring significantly less power draw for the C1 modem compared to the Qualcomm modem in the iPhone 16 …
Perhaps the most reassuring news is no news in this case, and Geekerwan’s tests mostly bear that out. The iPhone 16e was indistinguishable from the iPhone 16 in cellular performance (aside from the fact the 16e lacks mmWave).
As well as testing reception in the lab environment, they also took the phones out on a subway train journey. While speeds fluctuated, all iPhone 16 models were in the same ballpark in terms of number of dropouts and average connectivity strength.
As shown by the graph below, the difference in efficiency was noticeable in the recorded wattage power draw. Apple says the C1 modem is up to 25% more energy efficient, and this largely rings true in these observed numbers.
In the high signal strength conditions, average power draw for the iPhone 16 on 5G was 0.88 watts, compared with just 0.67 watts on the iPhone 16e … a difference of about 24%. In the low signal test, average power draw was 0.81 watts and 0.67 watts respectively, a difference of about 17%.
In terms of real world battery life, the iPhone 16e achieved 7 hours and 53 minutes in their 5G video streaming test, compared with just 7 hours for the iPhone 16 and 6 hours 54 minutes for the iPhone 16 Pro. That means the iPhone 16e ran for about an hour longer compared to the similarly form factor iPhone 16 models. The larger Plus and Pro Max, with their bigger internal batteries, clock in at around eight and a half hours.
However, it’s somewhat difficult to say how much of the battery life improvement seen in the iPhone 16e is down to the improved efficiency of the modem, or simply the fact the 16e has a larger internal battery to begin with. That’s because the 16e has a 3961mAH battery packed inside its enclosure, which is about 12% bigger than the iPhone 16 Pro battery. So, it seems Apple achieved the iPhone 16e longevity through a combination of the C1 modem and the bigger battery cell.
You can watch the full video test from Geekerwan here.
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