Since late last year, rumors have been circulating that Apple could drop the newest member to the iPhone SE family pretty soon. The Cupertino giant had some other ideas for their “newest member to the family” with the launch of the new iPhone 16e . The name confirms that it shares several similarities with the base iPhone 16. So it only makes sense to see how the iPhone 16e fares vs the iPhone 16 to find out which offers better value for money in 2025.
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: Specifications
Before talking in depth about the two smartphones, let us take a quick look at the key specifications and highlights.
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: Build and Design
The only design differences I can make out as a reviewer between the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16 are the additional camera control on the right in the iPhone 16 and the cameras at the back. Apart from that, both the 16e and 16 look identical to each other. They both have chamfered metal rails on the side, with matte textured glass on the back. However, the iPhone 16 has a dual camera setup at the back, while the iPhone 16e has one. Yes, Apple launched a phone with a single camera in 2025
I guess it was a necessary cost-cutting measure, given they haven’t compromised much on the internals. The rest of the back is made up of glass, which is protected by a Ceramic shield on the front. The iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16 also include IP68 protection to prevent any poolside mishaps but skips out on MagSafe for some reason. So if you want to use your old MagSafe accessories, it would be logical to pick the iPhone 16.
Besides that, both phones include the Action Button on the left and a USB Type C port at the bottom. And before anyone asks, it’s the USB 2.0 version. Seems like Apple’s design engineers have secured a safe spot with the design and don’t want to stray away too far from it.
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: Display and Cameras
When comparing the displays of the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16, you’ll see they are very similar. Both the phones have a 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate ( c’mon, Apple ). The panel supports HDR 10+ content and Dolby Vision, however, the brightness of the 16e is slightly lower at a 1200 nits peak in comparison to the iPhone 16 which can touch the 2000 nits mark. This should help make the phone easy to use when on your trip to the beach.
The only obvious difference is visible at the top. The iPhone 16e still includes the dated notch that Apple ditched just a few years ago. But that also means that for the first time, Apple is introducing Face ID in an iPhone 16e. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 has a pill-styled dynamic island. This is also home to the 12MP selfie shooter, which is the same hardware seen in the 16e. It can take some natural-looking photos, and capture videos at up to 4K at 60FPS.
This is the same as the rear 48MP lens on both devices. Again, the hardware remains the same on the back, featuring the latest lens from the iPhone 16 on the 16e. This lets you get great results, and almost lossless 2x crops from the iPhone 16e. This can also pull off steady 4K 60 footage thanks to OIS. Though, that’s where the camera prowess of the new 16e comes to an end. It doesn’t include an ultra-wide lens at the back, which can be a bummer if you are into ultra-wide photography.
Hardware, Software, and AI
The iPhone 16e, and the 16 come with Apple’s latest A18 processor based on the 3nm architecture. This gives a massive edge to the 16e, as it can take on even the mightiest of midrange options from Android. We’ve already discussed the A18’s capabilities , but to summarize, this chipset not only outperforms Snapdragon’s flagship processor, but it can also run console games like the Resident Evil 4 remake.
Image Credit: Apple
So it can handle heavy loads like a champ and brings with it pretty decent battery efficiency. iOS 18 ( review ) should run smoothly on both iPhones, and there should be no hiccups during regular usage. They have even included their own C1 modem introduced in the iPhone 16e.
The software offers new icon customizations, a control center, T9 calling, a redesigned Photos app, and other features. Given this new processor, the iPhone 16e should work seamlessly with future updates. The iPhone 16e also includes Apple Intelligence capabilities. This lets you use the most recent AI advancements in iOS.
While Apple has not revealed the RAM configuration, we do know that the iPhone 16 has 8GB of RAM to handle Apple Intelligence functions. The lack of it is the reason why earlier devices don’t have these capabilities. So the 16e should have the same amount of RAM . This makes the iPhone 16e the most affordable iPhone to feature Apple Intelligence out of the box.
We’re not going to go in-depth about the Apple Intelligence features, as we have discussed them separately. But credit where credit is due, I didn’t expect these features to arrive on this device. It makes the iPhone 16e on par with the iPhone 16 in terms of not just performance but also software. I am sure that we reviewers would have given it a clean pass if they decided to omit Apple Intelligence, but its addition here is worth celebrating.
Battery and Charging
So far, it seems like I have been comparing the same phone against itself. This trend breaks in the battery department as Apple claims that the iPhone 16e offers up to 26 hours of video playback . However, if we check the product page of the iPhone 16, it can do only 22 hours of video playback. So does that mean that the iPhone 16e has a bigger battery? We can’t say for sure since the company isn’t fond of sharing battery specifications.
Both the iPhone 16e and the 16 support USB PD 2.0 allowing them to charge up to 50% in 30 minutes . For some odd reason though, Apple skipped out on MagSafe on the 16e, but it can still charge wirelessly. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 includes MagSafe and can charge up to 25W with a 30W adapter.
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: Which One Should You Buy in 2025?
Image Credit: Beebom
The new iPhone 16e starts at a high asking price of $599, just $200 short compared to the iPhone 16 whose base model retails for $799. Now here’s the thing, the iPhone 16 has been out for a few months now, and you can get them for cheap during sales, discounts, or offers. Heck, you can get the iPhone 16 for even lower if you decide to get a used or refurbished one.
This puts the iPhone 16e in a tough spot. While it does include all the new flashy features, the omission of an ultra-wide camera, MagSafe, camera control, and dynamic island don’t justify its cost. It is a pretty decent midrange device, but if only Apple had priced it a bit more aggressively, it would have been an easier recommendation. At $599, you’re getting a decent phone, but not the one that you should go for.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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- Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Mac is set to get a “metalens” technology for Face ID.
- This tech will equip an optical lens with microscopic nano-structures to control light, thus resulting in a smaller Dynamic Island.
- The new Face ID technology will also arrive on the next generation of iPad Pro models, as well as the “folding iPad”.
We’re six months past the release of the iPhone 16 series, and as is the case, all eyes are set on the upcoming lineup. We know Apple has prepared substantial changes in the iPhone 17 lineup, with plans to refresh the overall design and camera setup . Then, there’s the much-anticipated release of the iPhone 17 Slim (or Air) that could be Apple’s ultra-premium iPhone yet. We now have new information on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and it’s regarding the Dynamic Island it’s going to come with.
As per renowned leaker Digital Chat Station ( via Weibo ), Apple’s upcoming Pro Max model could use a new “metalens” technology for Face ID. This new tech will integrate both the transmitter and receiver elements in one. It’ll thus minimize the size of the Face ID components at the top of the iPhone. This change should result in a smaller Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17 Pro Max display.
This new metalens tech will essentially be an optical lens with microscopic nano-structures. It would be able to manipulate light , unlike the curved lenses on the current set of iPhones. The reduction is size owes to the optical lens itself, which is lightweight and can be flat in nature.
The leaker also revealed that this upcoming Face ID tech will become available on the next line of iPad Pro models, as well as the “ folding iPad “. The latter could be regarding Apple’s potential foldable iPhone , which we haven’t heard anything about recently.
Ultimately, Apple could be preparing to move all of its Face ID tech under the display. Similar to front cameras on phones like Samsung’s Z Fold 6. However, such a change could take years to perfect, and we might still be a few generations away.
If this report turns out to be true, it’ll be the first time in three years that the Dynamic Island gets a refresh. The display cutout has more-or-less remained the same since it debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro.
The iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to feature the same aluminum frame as the standard versions. Its cameras will take on the same design choices, with a rectangular camera bump on an aluminum encasement. The cameras themselves will get a major upgrade, all three lenses will feature 48MP sensors.
Ajaay’s love affair with technology started young, with the Nokia N-Gage piquing his interest. Since 2016, he’s channeled his passion for tech into crafting explainers and guides on iOS, macOS, Android, social media, privacy & cybersecurity, and AI. When it’s time to unplug, Ajaay enjoys playing EAFC, unwinding to music on a pair of open-backs, building his dream audiophile gear, or watching Arsenal struggle to keep a clean sheet.
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