After weeks of building up to the iPhone SE 4, Apple has now scrapped the series in favor of an iPhone 16E. The switch was expected by many analysts but we now have to answer the main question—between the iPhone 16E vs iPhone 16, what’s the difference? The iPhone SE has always stood as Apple’s cheapest, most basic model, and that holds true for the newly launched gadget as well, but the iPhone 16E is priced at an audacious $599.
This makes it a whole $170 more expensive than the older SE’s $429, and while we’d expected the price to go up, this is a considerable leap upwards. So what’s new in the iPhone 16 E and does it offer enough of a good deal over the iPhone 16 to make it a preferable purchase?
We still don’t know what the “E” stands for, but we do know all of the iPhone 16E specs that will allow you to make an informed decision on its purchase.
Image: The iPhone 16E vs the iPhone 16—there are only a small number of differences between the two.
iPhone 16E vs iPhone 16—What’s the Difference?
The base model of the iPhone 16 was launched on September 9, 2024, as a part of the iPhone 16 lineup, making up part of Apple’s primary smartphone offering for 2024. The smartphone brought the full scope of Apple Intelligence powered by the A18 chip to users who were not in a position to spring for the more expensive iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max.
Now, the iPhone 16E, with its more recent February 19, 2025 announcement date, is offering the same deal to customers who want an even cheaper smartphone and don’t care for the other specs such as the camera setup or MagSafe charging. With eliminations like these, you might find yourself wondering, “Should I still buy the iPhone 16E?” Let’s put the iPhone 16E vs the iPhone 16 to the test.
iPhone 16E Specs vs iPhone 16—What Does the 16E Promise?
To get started with understanding what’s new in the iPhone 16E, we’re going to make a comparison with the iPhone 16. We could compare it with the iPhone SE 3 instead, but it’s unlikely that anyone is considering switching to the older model right now.
|
Specifications |
iPhone 16E |
iPhone 16 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 | Apple A18 |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Apple GPU (5-core) |
| Size | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm |
| Build | Ceramic Shield glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Latest generation ceramic Shield glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display |
| Display quality | 1170 x 2532 pixels resolution, 1200 nits peak brightness, 60 Hz refresh rate | 1179 x 2556 pixels resolution, 2000 nits peak brightness, 60 Hz refresh rate |
| Brightness | 800 nits max brightness (typical), 1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR) | 1,000 nits max brightness (typical), 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR), 2,000 nits peak outdoor brightness, 1 nit minimum brightness |
| RAM | 8GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Camera | 2-in-1 48 MP wide-angle lens with integrated 2x telephoto capability | 48 MP wide-angle lens, 12 MP ultrawide lens |
| Front Camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes | Yes |
| Modem | Apple C1 modem | Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 modem |
| Wireless Charging | Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W | Qi2 (up to 15W) and MagSafe charging (up to 25W) |
| Features | Action button, Face ID, USB-C port, Emergency satellite messaging | Action button, Face ID, Camera Control button, Dynamic Island system, USB-C port, Ultra Wideband (UWB) support, Emergency satellite messaging |
| Colors | Black, White | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine |
| Price | Starts at $599 | Starts at $799 |
Thoughts on the iPhone 16E Specs and Features
Are the iPhone 16E features an upgrade from the previous SE model? It 100% is an upgrade from the older SE phone and packs a lot of the capabilities you’d expect from a phone today. Does the iPhone 16E specs offer enough of a reason to pick it over the iPhone 16? Only if you are okay with a single-lens camera and can work without MagSafe charging or the Dynamic Island setup. Otherwise, comparing the iPhone 16E vs iPhone 16, you do get a handful of better features on the iPhone 16.
Image credit: Apple. When you see the specs of the iPhone 16E vs the iPhone 16 laid out, its clear that the 16 is only an edge above, and the price is also higher.
What’s New in the iPhone 16E?
The iPhone 16E has taken away any hope of a smaller or uniquely designed iPhone as it conforms to the design aesthetic we’ve seen Apple stick to with the iPhone 16 lineup. It was time for the Touch ID home button to say its goodbyes so it makes sense that Apple has scrapped it this time, but it still takes away one of the more defining SE features.
While we have a bigger screen identical to the iPhone 16, you do not get to enjoy the benefits of the dynamic island notification system that Apple brought to the entire 2024 lineup. You get an action button on the iPhone 16E, but the camera control button promoted last year is also missing from this particular model. In terms of the “new” features of the iPhone 16E vs the iPhone 16, the latter is obviously better off.
The iPhone 16E also features the first Apple-designed cellular modem, the Apple C1. This guarantees faster 5G connectivity and the company states it is the “most power-efficient modem ever seen on an iPhone.” The satellite and emergency services we saw promoted with the iPhone 16 family, are also present on the 16E.
Apple also offers a USB-C port on the iPhone 16E, but it didn’t have much of a choice in the matter as it has been forced to phase out the lightning port in the last year.
iPhone 16e is missing:
– MagSafe
– Ultra wide camera
– Ultra wideband chip (AirTags/AirPods precision finding)
– Camera Control
– Dynamic Island
– Color choices
– A good price
– A GPU core (iPhone 16 has 5, this has 4)
– Photographic Styles
– Current-gen Ceramic Shield
– Outdoor… pic.twitter.com/ZULAea68Ym— Dylan (@DylanMcD8) February 19, 2025
iPhone 16E Features Apple Intelligence—Is This Enough to Convince You to Buy the New Smartphone?
The iPhone 16E with its Apple A18 chip, is the cheapest iPhone with AI capabilities built into the device. Before this, you could either purchase the iPhone 16 ($799), the iPhone 16 Plus ($899), or the iPhone 15 Pro ($999) as the most affordable alternative for Apple Intelligence integration. This new release makes the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models entirely irrelevant.
The integration of the latest generation of the chips is much appreciated, and as a result, you gain access to the writing tools, AI summaries, Apple Genmojis, image generation capabilities, upgraded Siri features, photo editing clean-up tools, and other AI-derived benefits on the smartphone.
While debating between the iPhone 16E vs iPhone 16, both are evenly matched in terms of AI, so your decision to buy either will have to rely on other factors.
The iPhone 16E Specs Miss Out on Qi2 and MagSage Charging
MagSage charging has been a key feature on iPhones since the iPhone 12 and is a central strength it enjoys over some Android phones. While you do get to benefit from Qi charging up to 7.5W, it just doesn’t feel the same and create the same impact as it would have otherwise.
Wild that there is no MagSafe in the iPhone 16e pic.twitter.com/TNivoKKxna
— Aaron (@aaronp613) February 19, 2025
There will inevitably be charging cases that eventually make it possible for the iPhone 16E to enjoy MagSafe charging, but it does leave the device a step behind the iPhone 16.
If wireless charging is not a big deal for you, the iPhone 16E promises a “Supersized battery life,” with up to 26 hours of video playback. The iPhone SE 3rd gen offered up to 15 hours of video playback so the iPhone 16E will be an upgrade for those leveling up from the older model. The iPhone 16 also only offers up to 22 hours of video playback, so the battery life on the iPhone 16E is a win on all fronts.
On the matter of the iPhone 16E vs iPhone 16, if you want a more long-lasting battery the former wins, but if you want better wireless charging without having to buy a special case, the latter wins.
Image: Apple’s iPhone 16E is the cheapest iPhone with Apple Intelligence, which is the central selling point for the entire iPhone 16 lineup.
Should I Buy the iPhone 16E?
The iPhone 16E is the cheapest iPhone with AI and it is designed for those who want to experience these features without splurging on a really expensive phone. If you already own an iPhone model from the iPhone 15 Pro or higher, then there is no reason to really glance at the iPhone 16.
Hmm… iPhone 16e is definitely a head scratcher 🤔 maybe I’m missing something but I’m not sure I’d even get my parents one and they’re the least tech savvy people on the planet (I say that with love and respect 😅).
Anyway, bring back the iPhone Mini you cowards 😡 pic.twitter.com/3qbuOzaIJo
— Zachary Anderson (@EzTech231) February 19, 2025
If you’re leveling up from an older iPhone SE model and were satisfied with the features it offered, then you could buy the iPhone 16E because it will be just enough of an upgrade to suit your needs without making you pay for features you will not use. Alternatively, an iPhone 15 Pro may also be a good option for you, especially if you can find it renewed or refurbished, but it does leave you with an older processor that may impact the longevity of your device.
Lastly, if you’re debating between purchasing the iPhone 16E vs the iPhone 16, then there are 4 factors that will influence your decision—battery and charging, dynamic island, single lens camera setup, and price.
- If you prefer a phone that lasts longer above all else, pick the iPhone 16E
- If you want more angle options and better quality images while taking a photo, pick the iPhone 16 with its dual camera lens
- If you want to enjoy the UI benefits that the Dynamic Island system offers, then pick the iPhone 16
- Budget is all that matters and if you don’t care about anything else, then buy the iPhone 16E
Don’t call iPhone 16e affordable. The biggest joke of 2025. pic.twitter.com/otSsvpzutA
— Nikhil Wad (@nikhilwadx) February 19, 2025
The iPhone 16E is not a “budget phone” as we’d expect it to fall below the $500 margin to qualify, but it is the cheapest iPhone you can buy without missing out on some of its latest features.
iPhone 16E Release Date and Availability
The iPhone 16E was announced on February 19, 2025, and it will be available for pre-orders from February 21, 2025. The iPhone 16E release date for the official sales has been set for February 28, 2025.
If you’ve made up your mind on the iPhone 16E vs iPhone 16 debate and know which one you’re buying, you can get set to place your orders and tell us which one wins the battle for you.
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