Apple has officially announced the iPhone 16e, previously rumored as the iPhone SE 4. This latest addition to the lineup offers a more budget-friendly alternative, but how does it compare to the standard iPhone 16?
If you’re considering an upgrade, the decision comes down to whether the cost savings of the iPhone 16e outweigh the premium features of the iPhone 16. To help you make an informed choice, we’ve compared both models based on their official specifications and our extensive experience reviewing iPhones.
Let’s compare their design, cameras, performance, and battery life to decide your perfect match.
The iPhone 16E will be available for pre-order on February 21, with an official release date of February 28. Pricing starts at $599 / £599 / AU$999 for the 128GB model, going up to $899 / £899 / AU$1,549 for the 512GB version.
On the other hand, the iPhone 16, released last year, comes at a higher price point, starting at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 for the 128GB base model, with the 512GB variant reaching $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,949.
Here’s a quick price comparison between the two models:
| Model | 128GB | 256GB | 512GB |
| iPhone 16E | $599 / £599 / PKR 185,000 (approx.) | $699 / £699 / PKR 214,000 (approx.) | $899 / £899 / PKR 269,000 (approx.) |
| iPhone 16 | $799 / £799 / PKR 247,000 (approx.) | $899 / £899 / PKR 267,000 (approx.) | $1,099 / £1,099 / PKR 322,000 (approx.) |
At just $100-$200 less than the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16E sits in an interesting price range. A slightly lower price might have made it a more compelling alternative, but its value ultimately depends on the features it offers—something we’ll explore in the next sections.
The iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 share a similar shape, but there are key differences. The iPhone 16e has a single rear camera, while the iPhone 16 features a dual-camera setup. The iPhone 16e comes in black and white, while the iPhone 16 offers more colors, including ultramarine, teal, and pink.
Both phones have Ceramic Shield protection, IP68 water resistance, and customizable Action Buttons. However, only the iPhone 16 includes a Camera Control button for photographers.
On the front, the iPhone 16 features Dynamic Island, while the iPhone 16e retains the traditional notch. Both use OLED displays, but the iPhone 16 has a brighter screen, with a peak of 1,600 nits compared to the iPhone 16e’s 1,200 nits. Both displays can dim to one night in dark environments.
The main difference between the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 lies in their camera setups. The iPhone 16e features a single 48MP main camera with 1x and 2x optical zoom. In contrast, the iPhone 16 has a dual-camera system with a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, offering zoom from 0.5x to 2x.
The iPhone 16 also includes sensor-shift optical image stabilization, while the 16e has standard optical stabilization. If low-light shooting is important to you, this could be a key difference.
For portrait photography, the iPhone 16 offers advanced Focus and Depth Control, while the 16e only provides basic Depth Control. The iPhone 16 also supports macro photography, Spatial photos and videos, Cinematic mode for 4K Dolby Vision, and Action mode for stabilized video.
Both the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 run on Apple’s A18 chip, but the 16e features a four-core GPU, while the 16 has a more powerful five-core GPU better suited for high-performance gaming.
A key change is the iPhone 16e’s C1 modem, Apple’s first in-house design, replacing the Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 found in the iPhone 16.
Charging speeds also differ: the iPhone 16e supports only Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W, while the iPhone 16 offers faster Qi2 (15W) and MagSafe (25W) charging. The 16e’s lack of MagSafe means it won’t support accessories like magnetic cases and wallets.
Interestingly, Apple claims the iPhone 16e has better battery life, offering up to 26 hours of video playback compared to the iPhone 16’s 22 hours possibly due to its lower power consumption and optimized modem.
The choice between the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16 ultimately comes down to your priorities. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option with solid performance, great battery life, and a sleek design, the iPhone 16e is a compelling choice. However, if you want a more powerful GPU, better camera versatility, MagSafe support, and a brighter display, the iPhone 16 justifies its higher price.
While the iPhone 16e offers a taste of flagship features at a lower cost, the iPhone 16 delivers a more complete package for those who want the best experience. Your decision depends on whether the savings are worth the trade-offs.