iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16
The iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 fulfil their own roles in the wider 16 range, but how do they truly differ when looking at the nuts and bolts? We’re here to compare the iPhone 16e and base 16 model, breaking down their features so you can determine which one is right for you.
Ready to choose one of these handsets? Pick up the iPhone 16e or iPhone 16 from a range of colours and storage sizes.
Spec comparison
- Dimensions - 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm
- Weight - 167g
- OS - iOS 18
- Display - 6.1” Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution - 2532x1170
- Processor - A18
- RAM - 8GB
- Storage - 128/256/512GB
- Rear cameras - 48MP Fusion
- Front camera - 12MP
- Battery - 3,961mAh
- Water and dust resistance - IP68
- Connectivity - Wi-Fi 6; Bluetooth 5.3; 5G
- Dimensions - 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm
- Weight - 170g
- OS - iOS 18
- Display - 6.1” Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution - 2556x1179
- Processor - A18
- RAM - 8GB
- Storage - 128/256/512GB
- Rear cameras - 48MP Fusion; 12MP ultra-wide
- Front camera - 12MP
- Battery - 3,561mAh
- Water and dust resistance - IP68
- Connectivity - Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.3; 5G
Release dates
The iPhone 16e was released on the 28th February 2025. The iPhone 16 released five months prior on the 20th September 2024.
Design
Key takeaways
• Extremely similar design features and materials used
• The iPhone 16e is slightly lighter at 167g
• No Camera Control button on the iPhone 16e
• Both come with IP68 water and dust resistance
In an intentional move to bring the SE series closer in line with flagship iPhones, the iPhone 16e is almost identical in design to its base iPhone 16 sibling. The front sports an edge-to-edge screen with minimal bezels, surrounded by an aluminium frame. On the glass back you’ll find a single camera without a camera bump to house it, which gives the iPhone 16e a sleek look, too.
As we mentioned, these design features are extremely similar to the base iPhone 16, all in aid of unifying the series and creating a consistent aesthetic. This unification takes on greater significance when throwing the iPhone SE range into the mix. The iPhone 16e and SE share DNA as Apple’s budget-friendly option, but there’s no doubt that the SE’s older design had grown quite long in the tooth.
Bringing the iPhone 16e closer to the base iPhone 16 means it also possesses design features such as the Action button, which can be used to shortcut tasks such as turning on the flashlight. However, the iPhone 16e does not come with the Camera Control button; this remains exclusive to the base iPhone 16 and up.
Display
Key takeaways
• Share the same 6.1” Super Retina XDR display
• No Dynamic Island on the iPhone 16e
• iPhone 16 has a slightly higher resolution
• Peak brightness on the iPhone 16 is significantly higher
The iPhone 16e and base iPhone 16 share the same underlying Super Retina XDR technology, which for several years now has impressed us with its ability to produce outstanding visuals that are rich in detail. The OLED displays on these handsets are also the same size - measuring in at 6.1” corner-to-corner – so there’s very little separating them on a fundamental level.
Where the base iPhone 16 really flexes its muscles is brightness, with a significantly higher peak brightness of 2,000 nits when viewed outdoors. For context, the iPhone 16e can output at a peak brightness of 1,200 nits; it doesn’t really come close in the brightness department. As a result of this difference, the base iPhone 16 performs much better in outdoor environments and can be viewed with little strain on the eyes.
Another feature that the base iPhone 16 possesses is the Dynamic Island. Introduced alongside the iPhone 14 series, this feature leverages the camera pill box on the phone’s front to display useful information like news and texts. Whilst not a game-changer or a huge loss for the iPhone 16e, the Dynamic Island is an extra flourish that some iPhone 16 users will enjoy.
Performance and software
Key takeaways
• Both come with the A18 processor
• The base iPhone 16 includes an extra GPU core for high-performance gaming
• Apple Intelligence is included on both phones
• iOS 18 is also present on both handsets
Performance is an area where, like with their design, we see very little difference between the iPhone 16e and base iPhone 16. Both handsets are equipped with the A18 processor for ultra-fast gaming and multitasking, further supported by six CPU cores to keep things feeling silky-smooth. The base iPhone 16 does come with an extra GPU core, but you’ll only see and feel the difference when cranking up the graphic settings.
One of the biggest selling points for the iPhone 16e is how it serves as an affordable way to experiment with AI. Apple Intelligence touches many aspects of the 16e, from writing and proofreading to conceptualising ideas with the Image Wand tool. Having these features at your disposal, in a handset designed to be budget-friendly, is a big win for the iPhone 16e and means there’s little separating it from the base iPhone 16 in the software department.
Another example of this parity is iOS 18, which is included on both phones. This version of iOS made it easier to organise your photo gallery with themed collections, introduced the ability to create widget groups on the lock screen, and added animated effects for texts in the Messages app.
Cameras
Key takeaways
• The base iPhone 16 features an extra ultra-wide camera
• Macro photography and spatial photos are only available on the base iPhone 16
• Action Mode for videos is exclusive to the base iPhone 16
If you frequently use your iPhone for taking photos, the base iPhone 16 is more feature-packed than the iPhone 16e. This starts with hardware and the additional 12MP ultra-wide camera that provides greater flexibility when taking panoramic photos. There’s also a 48MP Fusion camera, which is so named for its ability to combine high-resolution and low-light images when taking a shot. The iPhone 16e only comes with that 48MP Fusion camera, so it loses a little bit of versatility as a result.
Certain photography features are exclusive to the base iPhone 16, such as macro photography to shoot extreme close-ups and spatial photos for producing images with a 3D effect. The base iPhone 16 also supports spatial video recording, which can then be viewed via an Apple Vision Pro headset.
Battery
Key takeaways
• Battery life is significantly better on the iPhone 16e
• Up to 26 hours of video playback on the iPhone 16e, compared to 22 hours on the base iPhone 16
• No MagSafe support on the iPhone 16e
Apple pulled out all the stops for the iPhone 16e’s battery, easily surpassing the base iPhone 16 for longevity. 3,961mAh means the iPhone 16e can easily withstand a full day of use before needing a recharge, at which point you can power it back up in around 30 minutes with a 20W or higher charger. In contrast, the base iPhone 16’s battery comes in at 3,561mAh; still excellent, but not quite the workhorse that the 16e is.
It's worth noting that the iPhone 16e does not support MagSafe, so if you have one of these chargers and frequently use it as your recharge method, you’re better off opting for the base iPhone 16.
Summary
As you can see, the iPhone 16e and base iPhone 16 are fundamentally similar handsets with common traits shared across them. The question of which to choose will ultimately depend on two things: the camera and battery life. If photography is a crucial part of the smartphone experience for you, the base iPhone 16 is likely to be a great option; on the other hand, if battery life takes precedence, the iPhone 16e has you covered.
Need some guidance on moving your old iPhone data across to a new device? Let our experts take you through step-by-step.