Apple’s $599 iPhone 16e It is the company’s latest entry-level phone, positioning itself as the most affordable way to get Apple intelligence and other features $799 iPhone 16. But considering it replaces $429 iPhone SEyou can hardly call the iPhone 16e at a higher starting price. If you’re looking to save some money, there might be another option: Apple is older but still capable, iPhone 15. Of course, it was released in 2023, but depending on your priorities, it could be a compelling choice. The iPhone 15 currently retails at $699, but it can be found on the secondary market at a lower price.
Watch the following: iPhone 16e review
Of course, since the iPhone 16e is a newer model, it will have newer features such as the latest A18 chip and compatibility with Apple Intelligence, which introduces generative emojis, smarter notifications and (final) Improved Siri. But in some areas, such as cameras and charging capabilities, the old iPhone 15 set it apart. These fundamentals may be more important to you than Apple developing AI features.
To help you decide, we outline some of the key differences between the two.
iPhone 16e.
processor
The iPhone 16e is paired with Apple’s latest A18 chip, which is also the $799 iPhone 16. This gives it more power and speed than the iPhone 15, which has only the older A16 bionic bionics iPhone 14 Pro. The newer A18 processor allows the iPhone 16E to run more graphics-intensive games, e.g. Resident Evil 4 Remake and Apple’s smart tools and features. The A16 Bionic is still a fast chip that can run almost all other applications in Apple’s App Store, but the A18 chip may receive software and new feature updates for longer.
Play “Resident Evil 4 Remake” on iPhone 16e.
Apple Smart
One of the most impressive features of the iPhone 16e is its support Apple Smartbefore only iPhone 15 Pro There is also the iPhone 16. In addition to providing smart Siri that is planned for later updates, Apple Intelligence also offers writing tools and cleaning tools to eliminate unnecessary elements from photos. On the other hand, despite the higher price, the iPhone 15 does not support Apple Intelligence.
While you can’t access Apple’s new AI features on your iPhone 15, you can use other services such as Chatgpt and Gemini by downloading apps that include these AI platforms. They will only run completely in the cloud rather than on devices.
The iPhone 16e has access to Apple Intelligence features such as Genmoji.
Camera: One and Two
The iPhone 16e and iPhone 15 have a 48-megapixel camera on the rear and a 12-megapixel camera on the front. However, the biggest difference is that the iPhone 15 has a secondary 12-megapixel speeding camera. Instead of relying on a second camera for wide lenses, the iPhone 16e uses sensor cropping to better enlarge the lens.
The iPhone 15 has a 48-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel speeding camera.
Battery and charging
Apple claims that the iPhone 16E can play videos for up to 26 hours (21 hours of streaming), while the iPhone 15 is said to be able to play videos for 20 hours (16 hours of streaming). The iPhone 16e obviously has a longer battery life due to the new power efficiency 5G modem called C1.
However, one big drawback of the iPhone 16e is that MagSafe wireless charging is not supported. It is limited to 7.5W with Qi wireless charging only. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 supports 15W MAGSAFE charging, which means it can charge wirelessly at twice the speed. The iPhone 15 also natively supports a variety of magnetic phone accessories such as wallets and shelves, while a third-party shell will be required for use with the iPhone 16E.
Both phones support USB-C fast charging up to 20W.
The iPhone 15 supports magnetic accessories locally, such as the MagSafe charger.
Notes on pricing and purchases
While the iPhone 15 retails for $100 more than the iPhone 16e, you can refurbish it at comparable or even lower prices depending on the store. For example, at the time of writing, you can purchase “Update” 128GB iPhone 15 from Amazon It’s about $500 to $530, which is $100 less than the iPhone 16e’s starting price. But, like buying anything in the secondary market, be aware that when you get a phone, the phone may not be in the tip shape. Also, warranty varies from store to store, so be sure to read the store policy.
Apple iPhone 16e vs. Apple iPhone 15
| Apple iPhone 16e | iPhone 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 6.1-inch OLED display; 2,532×1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556×1,179 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Dimensions (in inches) | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches. | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches. |
| Dimensions (mm) | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm |
| Weight (ounces, grams) | 167G (5.88 oz) | 171 g (6.02 oz) |
| Mobile software | iOS 18 | iOS 18 |
| camera | 48 megapixels (width) | 48 megapixels (width), 12 megapixels (speeding) |
| Front camera | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Video Capture | 4K | 4K |
| processor | Apple A18 | A16 Bionic |
| RAM/Storage | RAM Unknown + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Scalable storage | Nothing | Nothing |
| Battery/charger | Up to 26 hours of video playback, 21 hours of streaming video playback, and 90 hours of audio playback. 20W wired charging, 7.5W QI wireless charging | Not disclosed; Apple claims up to 20 hours of video playback (16 hours of streaming). 20W wired charging, 15W MAGSAFE wireless charging |
| Fingerprint sensor | No, face ID | No, face ID |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | Nothing | Nothing |
| Special features | Action button, Apple C1 5G modem, Apple Smart, Ceramic Shield, Emergency SOS, Satellite Connection, IP68 Resistor | 5G (MMW/SUB6), IP68 level, Magsafe, Dynamic Island |
| Price not contract (USD) | $599 (128GB), $699 (256GB), $899 (512GB) | $699 (128GB), $799 (256GB), $999 (512GB) |
| Price (GBP) | £599 (128GB), £699 (256GB), £899 (512GB) | £699 (128GB), £799 (256GB), £999 (512GB) |
| Price (AUD) | AU $999 (128GB), AU $1,199 (256GB), AU $1,549 (512GB) | AU $1,249 (128GB), AU $1,449 (256GB), AU $1,799 (512GB) |
