Apple’s best iPhones don’t come cheap. That said, it’s been better about launching affordable versions of its flagship phones in the past few years. The iPhone 16e is the latest iteration of the cheaper SE series, which opens the gates for those of us who don’t have as much money to spare. It succeeds the iPhone SE 3, a “small in size, big in value” phone that’s been waiting for an upgrade for over two years.
Apple has stepped forward in some aspects, like adding premium features like Apple Intelligence and face recognition to the iPhone 16e, but it still might be a while until we see an increase in iPhone refresh rates. Here’s everything we know about the iPhone 16e refresh rate and why a 120Hz rate is so appealing.
The iPhone 16e does not have a 120Hz refresh rate. At its launch event, Apple confirmed it would come with a 60Hz display, which matches the trend with its latest iPhones. The iPhone 16e is a budget iPhone, and not even the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have a 120Hz refresh rate. That’s a privilege reserved for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. For reference, both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have a 60Hz refresh rate. The iPhone SE 3 also had the same refresh rate.
While we listed the 60Hz refresh rate as a con in our iPhone 16 reviews, the 60Hz refresh rate on a cheaper phone is a little more reasonable.
A high refresh rate can add fluidity and minimize lag on your phone so that navigating it feels as seamless as possible. It’s an especially attractive quality for watching live broadcasts or playing mobile games. The refresh rate on your device equates to how quickly it’ll refresh the screen at any given time, so a 120Hz refresh rate is capable of refreshing at almost double the speed of a 60Hz phone. A 60Hz display might seem choppy in comparison.
However, you might not even need a 120Hz display for an iPhone. One of our staffers found that 60Hz on the iPhone 15 is actually fine, possibly because Apple’s powerful processors make up for it. Having the same refresh rate for a phone that’s expected to cost a fraction of the price sounds like a win to me.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.