I took the newly launched iPhone 16e on a whirlwind trip to Hong Kong, eager to test not just its 48MP 2-in-1 camera system, but also its A18 chip performance, battery life, and Apple Intelligence features. With its sleek matte white finish with a pretty blue casing in my hands, I roamed the bustling streets of Hong Kong, took a tram up to Victoria Peak, and indulged so much food, snapping photos along the way.
The A18 chip inside the iPhone 16e handled everything I threw at it with ease. Whether I was switching between the camera, navigation apps, and social media, the phone never stuttered.
Battery life was another highlight. Even with hours of photo-taking, video recording, and Google Maps running in the background, I ended the day with around 30% battery left, impressive for a 6.1-inch device. The switch to USB-C charging also made topping up the battery more convenient.
No trip to Hong Kong is complete without a visit to Victoria Peak, where the city’s skyline glows like a circuit board. Here, the 2x Telephoto lens came in handy, letting me zoom in on the glittering windows of skyscrapers without losing sharpness. Check out the video below to see the iPhone 16e’s zoom capabilities!
Food photography is an art in Hong Kong, and the iPhone 16e is delivered on this front. Sitting at a dimly lit cha chaan teng, I snapped a photo of a steaming basket of dumplings, rice rolls, siew mais, and the results were mouthwatering. The entire vibe of the restaurant gave such a nostalgic feel.
I even tried the famous roast goose at Yat Lok, a Michelin-starred restaurant known for its crispy skin and rich, succulent meat. Of course, I had to capture the moment. The iPhone 16e’s camera made the golden-brown glaze on the goose look as mouthwatering on screen as it did in person. Even better, the camera’s automatic macro function switched on when I brought the phone closer to my food.
I also experimented with the new Clean Up tool, powered by Apple Intelligence, to remove stray reflections and distractions, giving my shots a clean, polished look.
As the evening drew closer, Hong Kong’s night scene provided the perfect backdrop to test the iPhone 16e’s low-light capabilities, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it handled extreme lighting contrasts.
The 48MP Fusion camera captured the building’s vibrant glow without overexposing the highlights, and the Night Mode added impressive clarity without making the image look artificial. Although it was a pity that it was quite foggy that night, the photos still turned out beautiful.
I couldn’t resist taking a photo at Tsim Sha Tsui’s Avenue of Stars, with the night skyline in the background. The TrueDepth front-facing camera did not disappoint. With autofocus and Smart HDR, my face remained well-lit even with the bright Victoria Harbour skyline behind me.
The statue of Anita Mui stood elegantly against the shimmering Victoria Harbour. The night mode camera on the iPhone 16e worked wonders here, making my shot of the legendary Cantopop icon feel almost cinematic.
No trip to Hong Kong is complete without a ferry ride to Macau, and I couldn’t resist putting the iPhone 16e’s camera to the test in the city of contrasts. I explored the dazzling casinos of the Cotai Strip, where the architecture in The Venetian wowed me.
At the iconic Ruins of St. Paul’s, the 48MP sensor captured every intricate carving of the façade with stunning detail, while the wide dynamic range balanced the bright sky and shadowed stonework beautifully.
Beyond the glitz, Macau’s backstreets offered a different kind of beauty, vivid street art on old alley walls, blending Portuguese and Chinese influences.
The iPhone 16e isn’t just about hardware; its AI-powered tools made a noticeable difference in my experience. Natural language search in Photos meant I could just type “ship” to find my shots, and the Clean Up tool helped me erase distractions from my pictures in seconds.
The iPhone 16e exceeded my expectations, with its flagship-level camera, reliable battery life, and AI-powered tools making every moment easier to capture and share. The A18 chip kept everything smooth, while the USB-C port made charging more convenient.
If you’re looking for an iPhone that balances affordability with powerful features, the iPhone 16e is a fantastic option.
It is available in white and black in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities, starting at S$949 and click here to find out more.
