iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Which Apple phone better suits your needs?

The iPhone 16e might be part of the iPhone 16 series in name, but the only primary features it shares with the standard iPhone 16 are the powerful A18 processor and a 6.1-inch OLED display, and even those are slightly watered down.

The phones differ in most other respects, with the iPhone 16e offering a somewhat diluted experience in exchange for a $200 lower price tag. However, you might not notice the iPhone 16e's feature gaps unless you actively use or value an iPhone's ultrawide camera or Dynamic Island, MagSafe accessories, or your carrier's fastest 5G networks.

Apple promises a notable boost in battery life over the iPhone 16 for the iPhone 16e, which anyone can enjoy (and which we've yet to test). Still, the iPhone 16's battery life is already excellent, and despite the higher price, it's the better choice for discerning users who want the full-fat experience of the best iPhone for most people.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Specs

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Design

Both iPhones look almost identical save for a subtle height difference — the iPhone 16e has a 5.78-inch height compared to the iPhone 16's 5.81. Otherwise, they're both as wide (2.82 inches) and thin (0.31) as each other. As a point of reference, the iPhone 16e has identical dimensions to the iPhone 14.

The iPhone 16e is also slightly lighter at 5.88 ounces compared to the iPhone 16's six ounces, though the difference is likely imperceivable.

One of the biggest visible differences is the iPhone 16e's display notch, whereas the iPhone 16 comes with Apple's Dynamic Island. While not a dealbreaker, the notch leaves you without the Dynamic Island's useful functionality. It also dates the iPhone 16e's design to 2017, when the notch was first introduced with the iPhone X.

Another tell is the iPhone 16e's single camera on the rear compared to the iPhone 16's dual camera.

The iPhone 16e is only available in white and black, whereas the standard iPhone 16 colors include Ultramarine, Teal, and Pink, alongside white and black. Both models have matte exterior textures.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Performance

Both the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 run on Apple's A18 processor, but there's a minor difference. The iPhone 16e's A18 has a four-core graphics processor (GPU), compared to the iPhone 16's A18, which has a five-core GPU.

The difference might have a small impact on gaming, whether on graphics quality or frame rate, but the iPhone 16e still supports demanding AAA games that used to be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series.

Otherwise, the iPhone 16e should open and run apps as quickly and smoothly as the iPhone 16, including the same set of Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and ChatGPT integration with Siri, which we detail in depth in our iPhone 16 review.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Displays

The iPhone 16e has the same 6.1-inch display size as the iPhone 16. Both use Apple's Super Retina XDR OLED panel with a 60Hz refresh rate, so the overall experience should be just about identical, apart from the iPhone 16e's lack of a Dynamic Island.

Brightness is the main differentiator between the two models. The iPhone 16e has lower 800 nits typical brightness and 1,200 nits peak HDR brightness compared to the iPhone 16's 1,000 nits typical, 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness, and 2,000 peak brightness in bright outdoor conditions. The iPhone 16 can also dim down to one nit for a more comfortable experience in the dark.

Despite the brightness differences, the iPhone 16e should still offer a comfortable experience in bright and dark conditions, based on our experience with previous models like the iPhone 14 with similar brightness levels.

The iPhone 16e also sports Apple's first-generation Ceramic Shield glass panel, whereas the iPhone 16 uses the latest generation model, which the company claims is 50% tougher. Despite the generational advancement, we recommend equipping either phone with a protective film, as none of the best phones are impervious to display damage. See our guides to the best iPhone 16e screen protectors and best iPhone 16 screen protectors.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Cameras

The iPhone 16e single-camera system lacks the iPhone 16's ultrawide camera, and it doesn't include macro photography.

The iPhone 16 is also a better option if you take lots of portrait shots thanks to its next-generation portrait mode. It includes focus and depth control, whereas the iPhone 16e's portrait mode only supports depth control.

The iPhone 16e also doesn't support Apple's latest-generation Photographic Styles (basically high-quality filters), which means you can't add or adjust a Photographic Style to a photo that's already been taken.

Still, the iPhone 16e features a similarly high-resolution 48MP camera as the iPhone 16. Thanks to cropping the center 12MP of the sensor, both phones can take optical-quality 2x zoom photos.

While capable of the same 4K video recording up to 60 frames-per-second (fps) as the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16e omits advanced video recording features. There are no Cinematic or Action modes, no Spatial recording for viewing on Apple's Vision Pro AR headset, and no macro video recording. It also uses more basic optical image stabilization compared to the iPhone 16's advanced sensor-shift optical image stabilization.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: 5G networks

Unlike the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16e doesn't support the fastest 5G networks, also known as mmWave 5G, offered by T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. However, the iPhone 16e supports low- and mid-band 5G networks, which can be enough for most people — these networks can easily handle most common data loads, like video and music streaming, and scrolling through high-resolution photos in social media apps.

With that said, if you're paying for a plan that includes high-band 5G connectivity, like those in our best cell phone plans guide, you're not going to get your money's worth with the iPhone 16e. T-Mobile and AT&T's flagship unlimited plans all include connectivity to their respective high-band 5G networks, so discerning customers will find the iPhone 16e more limiting than the iPhone 16.

Verizon's basic Unlimited Welcome flagship plan doesn't include high-band 5G connectivity at full speeds, so these customers won't necessarily be hampered by the iPhone 16e.

Most economical carriers and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) in our best cheap cell phone plans guide don't typically offer high-band 5G access, and would be ideal options to pair with the iPhone 16e. They include Mint Mobile, Visible, Tello, and US Mobile.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Battery life and charging

We haven't tested Apple's claim that the iPhone 16e has the "best battery life ever on a 6.1-inch phone," but the company has shown that its battery life claims deserve credibility.

The iPhone 16 already has the best score for a 6.1-inch phone (65%) after finishing our battery test, so we expect an even better result with the iPhone 16e, which would be astounding. For more information, see our guide to the best phone for battery life.

The iPhone 16e has the same USB-C port for charging and USB 2 data transfers as the iPhone 16, and Apple touts the same charging speed (50% charge in 30 minutes with a 20W charger).

The iPhone 16e supports Qi wireless charging, which is typically under 10W and rather slow. The iPhone 16e doesn't support Apple's MagSafe wireless charging for faster charging up to 25W, which is utterly confounding. Nor does it support other MagSafe accessories.

A case that includes "MagSafe-compatible" magnets can overcome the iPhone 16e's lack of MagSafe support. The only downside is that wireless charging will still use the Qi standard, which is slower than MagSafe. See our guides to the best iPhone 16e cases or best iPhone 16 cases to protect either phone.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Buttons

The iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 include Apple's Action button, which was introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro models. It's essentially a shortcut button to various preset functions, like toggling the flashlight or enabling a Focus mode. The Shortcuts app allows you to customize its functions, which can be incredibly useful if you manage to figure out the app itself.

However, only the iPhone 16 comes with the Camera Control button — a shortcut button to the Camera app that also supports light presses and swipes for finer controls for zooming, exposure, depth, and switching Photographic Styles and Tones.

The Camera Control button is nice to have, but it's not a reason on its own to upgrade to the iPhone 16.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Which should you buy?

The iPhone 16e has the same performance and longevity potential as the iPhone 16, making it an incredibly powerful and reasonably-priced phone you could keep for six years or more (based on Apple's usual support window for iOS and security updates).

Since the iPhone 16e's lack of MagSafe support can be mitigated by a magnetic case (though at slower wireless charging rates), the choice really boils down to your budget, whether you value an ultrawide camera or the Dynamic Island, and whether your plan includes access to the fastest 5G networks.

In short, the iPhone 16e is a better pairing with economical phone plans that don't include high-band 5G. However, those who value an ultrawide camera will prefer the iPhone 16, regardless of high-band 5G connectivity.

The iPhone 16e can also be a more suitable option than the iPhone 16 for parents who shudder at the thought of spending $800 on a kids' phone. You're getting the performance and support longevity of the current A18 processor for a lower price than a current or previous-generation premium flagship phone.

If you want a more high-end experience complete with an ultrawide camera for less than the iPhone 16, whether or not your plan includes high-band 5G access, the iPhone 15 is worth considering. Just note it's $100 more than the iPhone 16e and lacks Apple Intelligence. See our iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15 guide for a comprehensive comparison.

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