iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Is the Cheaper iPhone Worth It?
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Last month, Apple finally launched what’s essentially the next-generation iPhone SE. However, while we knew that was coming, what we didn’t expect was that Apple would drop the iPhone SE brand and turn it into an iPhone 16e instead.
The new iPhone 16e is now the most powerful “budget” iPhone we’ve seen. Unfortunately, for old iPhone SE users, it’s not nearly as cheap as the SE. Apple bumped the starting price up from $429 to $599.
While that’s still $200 cheaper than the iPhone 16, we have to wonder if the more affordable iPhone offers enough bang for the buck to make it worth the price.
If you’re considering upgrading your iPhone, here’s everything you need to know before deciding on the iPhone 16e or iPhone 16.
iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Design
Like many other aspects of these two devices, the designs of the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 are quite similar. Let’s look at what’s the same and what’s different.
At first glance, both iPhones might look similar. They’re pretty much the same size and weigh almost the same — the iPhone 16 is still a bit heavier, at 6.00 ounces, while the iPhone 16e weighs 5.88 ounces.
However, the differences become more noticeable once you look at both devices. The iPhone 16e still packs the old notch we’re all familiar with — and don’t miss. If you’re upgrading your iPhone to experience the Dynamic Island, you’ll have to go for the iPhone 16.
Additionally, while both iPhones have an Action button, only the iPhone 16 has a Camera Control on the right side. Granted, this is a new feature that not many people might miss, especially since the iPhone 16e still gets Visual Intelligence, which can now be triggered with the Action button, as opposed to just the Camera Control on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models.
There are two significant changes on the back. First, the iPhone 16e has only a single camera lens, while the iPhone 16 has a two-camera system for better pictures.
Further, while both iPhones are made of aluminum, the iPhone 16 has a color-infused glass back, which gives it more colors and a frosted texture.
Speaking of colors, the iPhone 16e only comes in two: black and white. The iPhone 16, on the other hand, comes in five colors: ultramarine, teal, pink, black, and white.
Last but not least, the Ceramic Shield. Apple’s Ceramic Shield is a feature that makes the glass at the front of the screen tougher, and the iPhone 16 comes with the latest generation, which makes it more durable. The iPhone 16e comes with the last generation’s Ceramic Shield, which is still pretty tough but not as durable.
iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Display
The good news for people who live with the iPhone 16e is that the display is pretty much the same as the iPhone 16’s, which means you’ll get the same quality in most situations.
Both devices feature a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display. The resolution is slightly different, with the iPhone 16 having a 2556 x 1179-pixel resolution thanks to the notch, whereas the iPhone 16e has a 2532 x 1170-pixel resolution. Still, there is nothing so significant that you’ll notice any difference.
However, you will notice a difference when using your iPhone outside. That’s because the max brightness on the iPhone 16e only goes to 800 nits, and it can reach up to 1,200 nits at peak brightness. That’s the same as the iPhone 14, which makes sense as there’s every indication Apple simply recycled that older display for the iPhone 16e.
On the other hand, the iPhone 16 can reach up to 1,000 nits of typical max brightness and can go all the way to 2,000 nits when you’re outdoors. Needless to say, this is the best iPhone to have if you spend a lot of time outside.
iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Internals
Another good thing about the iPhone 16e is that it has mostly the same internal specs as the iPhone 16.
Both devices pack in the latest A18 chip and 8 GB of RAM, which is more than enough to handle any performance-heavy task. It also supports Apple Intelligence, which Apple will continue to work on and improve.
Additionally, both devices start at 128 GB of storage, with the same upgraded 256 GB and 512 GB versions available.
The most significant difference between both devices is in their GPU performance. The iPhone 16e has a 4-core GPU, while the iPhone 16 features a 5-core GPU. While this extra core might not seem like much, it gives the iPhone 16 an advantage in graphics performance. This won’t matter for casual games like Candy Crush, byt the iPhone 16 will do a better job handling more demanding games like Genshin Impact.
iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Battery Life
Surprisingly, the iPhone 16e is the clear winner in the battery department. For some reason, Apple decided to give the cheaper iPhone a bigger battery this time.
Apple never talks about specific measurements, but it’s been reported that the iPhone 16e has a 3,961 mAh battery, which is about 10% lager than the 3,561 mAh battery in the iPhone 16.
Apple confirms this by saying that the iPhone 16e can last up to 26 hours during video playback, while the iPhone 16 can only last up to 22 hours. This is also helped along by Apple’s new in-house C1 modem chip, which the company says is 25% more power-efficient than the Qualcomm chips used in its other iPhones.
Unfortunately, the iPhone 16 is the winner again when it comes to charging. While both devices can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes, the iPhone 16 supports Qi2 and MagSafe at speeds of up to 25W, allowing faster wireless charging.
On the other hand, the iPhone 16e doesn’t support MagSafe at all. Instead, you get standard 7.5W Qi charging, similar to the iPhone SE and iPhone 11 and older models. It will lay flat and charge at this slower speed from any MagSafe charger, but you’ll need to buy a MagSafe case if you want to attach it to a magnetic dock or stand.
iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Camera System
As mentioned, Apple decided to go with a single camera at the back of the iPhone 16e. This automatically means that the quality of the pictures it can take will be less than that of the iPhone 16, but it also lacks other valuable features.
The iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 both feature a 48-megapixel (MP) main camera in the back, but the iPhone 16 has an extra 12 MP Ultra Wide camera. Early reviews also suggest that the iPhone 16e is slightly slower at capturing photos, and doesn’t handle low light as well as the iPhone 16.
Additionally, both devices have features like Visual Intelligence and video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps.
However, the iPhone 16 has extra features like the latest generation of Photographic Styles, macro photography, and spatial photos and videos. This last one is very niche, although it’s useful if you have an Apple Vision Pro.
If taking pictures is a big deal for you, the iPhone 16 is the better device.
iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Which One Should You Choose?
As you can expect from two devices of the same generation, the more expensive one tends to have more features and be slightly better than its more affordable counterpart.
That’s always been the case between the iPhone SE and the main iPhone. However, the price has always been one solid reason for choosing the cheaper iPhone.
Even though they lacked a few things, the older iPhone SE models delivered excellent bang for your buck. With the price increase on the iPhone 16e, going for the more expensive model seems like a better deal.
Sure, you’ll have to spend more money, but you get more value for that $200 when you factor in all the extra features. If the iPhone 16e were a little cheaper, it would be a fantastic device and the obvious choice for most people. But now, it seems better to go for the iPhone 16 if you can afford it.
Of course, that’s not to say you won’t get a good deal if you go for the iPhone 16e. It’s still a pretty amazing iPhone, and thanks to the A18 chip and excellent battery life, it should last for a long time. But when compared with the iPhone 16, it falls short.
Last but not least, if you’re not in a hurry, you might want to wait until the end of the year. Once Apple releases the iPhone 17, the company will drop $100 off the price of the iPhone 16, making it an even better deal, even if you have to wait a while.
