When we reviewed the iPhone 16 Pro last year, Apple Intelligence was barely available. Since then, the iPhone 16 series has benefitted from several new features, apps and improvements. Some (or most) of them were Apple Intelligence features that were teased back at WWDC 2024, months before the iPhone 16 Pro launched. AI features weren't the only changes this time around, with the iPhone 16 getting an entirely new button. The so-called Camera Control wasn't just a simple app shortcut, but an elaborate multifunction button that offered a haptic half-press and the ability to swipe across to adjust camera settings and options.

Apple Intelligence is fast becoming a disaster. Announced in June 2024 at Apple's World Wide Developer Conference, the artificial intelligence system arrived on the whole iPhone 16 family in October (and iPhone 15 Pro handsets, too), bringing things like generative tools for folks who can't be bothered to write emails, and summaries for those who can't be bothered to read, well, just about anything. December's addition, Genmoji--an AI emoji generator--didn't exactly bring much by way of excitement either. At the heart of the Apple Intelligence we were actually promised is a new Siri, an upgraded version of Apple's voice assistant, enhanced with some of the same smarts that made ChatGPT so beguiling at its launch in 2022. Amazon made similar moves recently with its upgrade to Alexa, but a more intelligent Siri is still MIA. It was meant to be here already.

What started as an Apple Intelligence feature exclusive to the Camera Control-endowed iPhone 16 line is coming to older iPhones, and soon. We already knew that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max would get Visual Intelligence at some point in the future, and thanks to 9to5Mac, we now know it's one of several options you can assign to the Action Button in the second iOS 18.4 beta. That likely means the feature could end up in the final release of the update. Visual Intelligence lets you draw on AI models from Google and OpenAI to find information (and websites) about anything you point your iPhone's camera at. You can also use the feature to add information from a flyer to your calendar and oddly, identify dog breeds.

The keyword for the iPhone 16e seems to be "compromise." In this episode, Devindra chats with Cherlynn about her iPhone 16e review and try to figure out who this phone is actually for. Also, they dive into Amazon's Alexa event, where we finally learned more about the company's AI-powered voice assistant. Alexa seems useful, but can we trust it? Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News! Framework unveils a cheap 2-in-1 laptop and a…modular desktop? Devindra: This week, it's the iPhone 16e, which Cherlynn has reviewed. We're going to get her full thoughts on that thing. And also, Amazon held an AI event this week. We expected a lot of devices, but they spent 75 minutes talking about Alexa plus, which is the AI powered Alexa. Cherlynn: we expected a lot of devices. Cherlynn: one, at least one it's been a while. Devindra: Mr. Panos Panay was there, the father of the service and no devices, just him talking about AI. Cherlynn: Oh, and stay tuned at the end of this episode. Uh, I, we included an interview that I did with, um, the vice president of Alexa to talk more about the new Alexa plus. Devindra: Anyway, folks, if you're enjoying the show, please be sure to subscribe to us on iTunes or your podcaster of choice, leave us a review on iTunes and drop us an email at podcast@engadget.com. You can also join us on our live [00:01:00] stream on Thursday mornings, typically around 11 a. m. Um, you'll see our faces. Sometimes we'll do Q& A and show off devices as well. This week, uh, Sherilyn has the iPhone 16e, which is the least, um, impressive thing to show off. It's just like, Hey, you have an iPhone from 10 years ago, five, a while ago, Devindra: last, was there a single camera back iPhone? Cherlynn: Oh God, before that was 11. So, you know, it's like a flashback. So let's talk about this thing, Sherlynn. And I checked out your review. First of all, you gave it a really, um, I think serviceable score. Your title is what's your acceptable compromise. And really when we were talking about it last week, it really was like compromise seemed like the key word. The thing we kept coming back to was like just one camera, no mag safe, no fast wireless charging. What are your overall thoughts on this thing? Cherlynn: I mean, so that headline is like all thanks to our EIC, Aaron [00:02:00]Souppouris, because I was like, where, where do I go from here? How do I, so, so he's right. It is like, instead of what's in your wallet, it's like, what are you willing to take out your wallet? I'll tell you the story. So yesterday I was at the Amazon devices and services event where there were no devices and A bunch of other reporters had gathered and we were all like, you know, the, like, review's going up soon, right?

SHOPPING – Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Shopping Finder article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Dailymail.co.uk will earn an affiliate commission. Whether it's the 3,499 Vision Pro or the 7,199 Mac Pro, many of Apple's products come with hefty price-tags. The 599 iPhone 16e is the latest in Apple's'budget' smartphone line, and is the successor to the iPhone SE.

Products featured in this Shopping Finder article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Dailymail.co.uk will earn an affiliate commission. After months of anticipation, Apple finally unveiled its latest smartphone to the world last night - the iPhone 16e. The device runs Apple Intelligence features, including a ChatGPT integration with smart assistant Siri. It also includes a 6.1-inch display, a two-in-one camera system, an'extraordinary' battery life, and the return of the'notch' at the top of the display.

Apple has released a sleeker and more expensive version of its lowest-priced iPhone in an attempt to widen the audience for a bundle of artificial intelligence technology that the company has been hoping will revive demand for its most profitable product lineup. The iPhone 16e unveiled Wednesday is the fourth generation of a model that's sold at a dramatically lower price than the iPhone's standard and premium models. The previous bargain-bin models were called the iPhone SE, with the last version coming out in 2022. Like the higher-priced iPhone 16 lineup unveiled last September, the iPhone 16e includes the souped-up computer chip needed to process an array of AI features that automatically summarise text and audio and create on-the-fly emojis while smartening up the device's virtual assistant, Siri. It will also have a more powerful battery and camera.

Apple has finally pulled back the curtain on its latest'budget' smartphone – the iPhone 16e. Released February 28, the device runs Apple Intelligence features, including a ChatGPT integration with smart assistant Siri. It also has a 6.1-inch display, a two-in-one camera system, an'extraordinary' battery life, and sees the return of the'notch' at the top of the display. 'iPhone 16e packs in the features our users love about the iPhone 16 lineup, including breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, and Apple Intelligence,' said Kaiann Drance, Apple's vice president of worldwide iPhone product marketing. 'We're so excited for iPhone 16e to complete the lineup as a powerful, more affordable option to bring the iPhone experience to even more people.'

Apple unleashed some impressive gadgets last year including the iPhone 16 and the Vision Pro headset. Now, the tech giant is lining up its next set of gizmos – and the first five could arrive as soon as next month. According to reports, the company is about to unveil a new'affordable' iPhone – an alternative to the iPhone 16 which starts at 799/ 799. It's also preparing two new iPads, a new Mac and a brand new AI product, if rumours are to be believed. 'We've been off to a light start in 2025 in terms of Apple products,' says Apple news and rumours website 9to5Mac.

I've lost count of the number of things we reviewed this year at Engadget. In 2024, the types of products we tested ranged from the typical phones, laptops and headphones to AI wearables, robotic lawnmowers and handheld gaming consoles, alongside games and shows. It can feel hard to keep track of it all, but thankfully, our scoring system helps us highlight the best (and the worst) devices each year. Our team of reviewers and editors evaluate products based on their performance, value and how they hold up against the competition, and at least two people weigh in on every score before it's published. If something gets a result of 80 and up, it's considered a "Recommended" product, while those scoring 90 and more are awarded "Editors' Choice." The latter means they're the best in their class, beating out most of the competition.